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Nelson, New Zealand - Wikipedia

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1Etymology

2History

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2.1Early settlement

2.2Historic places

2.3New Zealand Company

2.3.1Planning

2.3.2Cultural and religious immigrants

2.3.3Problems with land

2.4City

2.5Coat of arms

2.6Nelson Province

2.6.1Nelson provincial anniversary

2.6.2Time gun

3Geography

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3.1Waterways

3.2Central city

3.3Suburbs

3.4National parks

3.5Climate

3.6"Centre of New Zealand" monument

4Demographics

5Economy

6Government

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6.1Local

6.2National

7Culture and the arts

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7.1Marae

7.2Events and festivals

7.2.1World of Wearable Art Awards

7.3Architecture

7.3.1Surviving historic buildings

7.4Museums

7.5Parks and zoo

7.6Sister cities

8Sport

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8.1Major sports teams

8.2Major venues

9Infrastructure and services

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9.1Healthcare

9.2Law enforcement

9.2.1Gangs

9.3Electricity

10Transport

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10.1Air transport

10.2Maritime transport

10.2.1Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company

10.3Public transport

10.3.1Ebus

10.3.2Taxis and shuttle vans

10.4Rail transport

10.5Horse tramway

10.6Road transport

11Education

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11.1Secondary schools

11.2Tertiary institutions

12Media

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12.1Broadcasting

12.2Print

13Notable people

14Panoramas

15See also

16References

17External links

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Coordinates: 41°16′15″S 173°17′2″E / 41.27083°S 173.28389°E / -41.27083; 173.28389

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

City in the South Island, New Zealand

City in Nelson City, New ZealandNelson

Whakatū (Māori)CityView of Nelson from the "Centre of New Zealand" in November 2006

FlagCoat of armsNickname(s): Top of the South, Sunny NelsonMotto(s): Latin: Palmam qui meruit ferat(Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm)Nelson Region in New ZealandCoordinates: 41°16′15″S 173°17′2″E / 41.27083°S 173.28389°E / -41.27083; 173.28389CountryNew ZealandUnitary authorityNelson CitySettled by Europeans1841Founded byArthur WakefieldNamed forHoratio NelsonElectoratesNelsonTe Tai TongaSuburbs

List

Nelson CentralAnnesbrookAtawhaiBeachvilleBishopdaleBritannia HeightsEnner GlynnMaitaiMarybankMoanaMonacoStepneyvilleStokeTāhunanuiThe BrookThe WoodToi ToiWakatuWashington Valley

Government • MayorNick Smith • Deputy mayorRohan O'Neill-Stevens • MPsRachel Boyack (Labour) Tākuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori)Area • Territorial422.19 km2 (163.01 sq mi) • Urban54.33 km2 (20.98 sq mi)Population (June 2023)[1] • Territorial55,600 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi) • Urban51,900 • Urban density960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST) • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)Postcode7010, 7011, 7020Area code03HDI (2021)0.927[2]very high · 7th

Southern suburbs of Nelson (right) and the nearby town of Richmond (left) seen from the air

Nelson (Māori: Whakatū) is a New Zealand city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island. It is the oldest city in the South Island and the second-oldest settled city in New Zealand; it was established in 1841 and became a city by royal charter in 1858.[3]

Nelson City is bordered to the west and south-west by the Tasman District and to the north-east, east and south-east by the Marlborough District. The Nelson urban area has a population of 51,900,[1] making it New Zealand's 15th most populous urban area.

Nelson is well known for its thriving local arts and crafts scene; each year, the city hosts events popular with locals and tourists alike, such as the Nelson Arts Festival.[4]

Etymology[edit]

Nelson was named in honour of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who defeated both the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Many roads and public areas around the city are named after people and ships associated with that battle. Inhabitants of the city are referred to as Nelsonians; Trafalgar Street is its main shopping axis.

Nelson's Māori name, Whakatū,[5] means 'construct', 'raise', or 'establish'.[6]

In an article to The Colonist newspaper on 16 July 1867, Francis Stevens described Nelson as "The Naples of the Southern Hemisphere".[7] Today, Nelson has the nicknames of "Sunny Nelson" due to its high sunshine hours per year or the "Top of the South" because of its geographic location.

In New Zealand Sign Language, the name is signed by putting the index and middle fingers together which are raised to the nose until the fingertips touch the nose, then move the hand forward so that the fingers point slightly forward away from oneself.[8]

History[edit]

See also: History of the Nelson Region, New Zealand

Diocese of Nelson Christ Church Cathedral on Church Hill, central Nelson

Early settlement[edit]

Settlement of Nelson began about 700 years ago by Māori.[9] There is evidence that the earliest settlements in New Zealand were around the Nelson-Marlborough regions. Some of the earliest recorded iwi in the Nelson district are Ngāti Hāwea, Ngāti Wairangi, Waitaha and Kāti Māmoe.[10] Waitaha people developed the land around the Waimea Gardens, are believed to have been the first people to quarry argillite in around Nelson. They also developed much of the Waimea Gardens complex – more than 400 hectares on the Waimea Plains near Nelson.[11] In the early 1600s, Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri displaced other te Tau Ihu Māori, becoming the dominant tribe in the area until the early 1800s.[10] Raids from northern tribes in the 1820s, led by Te Rauparaha and his Ngāti Toa, soon decimated the local population and quickly displaced them.

Today there are eight mutually recognised tribes of the northernwestern region: Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne, Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui.[10]

Historic places[edit]

There are three[dubious – discuss] main historic places located in Nelson, New Zealand. They are Broadgreen Historic House, Isel House, and Founders Heritage Park. The Broadgreen Historic House was originally built in 1855 for Mr and Mrs Edmund Buxton, additionally with their six daughters. The house was later sold to a Fred Langbein in 1901, who lived there with his family until 1965. In 1965, the house was bought by the Nelson City Council and is now used operated a museum for the general public.[citation needed]

Isel House is a local historical building located in Nelson. It was home to one of Nelson's first families, the Marsdens. Many of the rooms have been transformed into displays for the public to view. The restoration of Isel House is managed by Isel House Charitable trust under the supervision of Sally Papps, but the house and the park ground surrounding it are owned by the Nelson City Council.[12]

Founders Heritage Park is a local historical visit in Nelson. This interactive park shows visitors the history of Nelson, New Zealand. The park is set up as a village filled with buildings set in a historical time, including well established gardens. Throughout the park, there are stories to be learned about the history of this town.[13]

New Zealand Company[edit]

Planning[edit]

The New Zealand Company in London planned the settlement of Nelson. They intended to buy from the Māori some 200,000 acres (810 km2) of land, which they planned to divide into one thousand lots and sell to intending settlers. The company earmarked profits to finance the free passage of artisans and labourers, with their families, and for the construction of public works. However, by September 1841 only about one third of the lots had sold. Despite this, the colony pushed ahead, and land was surveyed by Frederick Tuckett.[14]

1845 Nelson from Church Hill looking east

Three ships, the Arrow, Whitby, and Will Watch, sailed from London commanded by Captain Arthur Wakefield. Arriving in New Zealand, they discovered that the new Governor of the colony, William Hobson, would not give them a free hand to secure vast areas of land from the Māori or indeed to decide where to site the colony. However, after some delay, Hobson allowed the Company to investigate the Tasman Bay area at the north end of the South Island. The Company selected the site now occupied by Nelson City because it had the best harbour in the area. But it had a major drawback: it lacked suitable arable land; Nelson City stands right on the edge of a mountain range while the nearby Waimea Plains amount to only about 60,000 acres (240 km2), less than one third of the area required by the Company plans.

The Company secured land from the Māori, that was not clearly defined, for £800: it included Nelson, Waimea, Motueka, Riwaka and Whakapuaka. This allowed the settlement to begin, but the lack of definition would prove the source of much future conflict. The three colony ships sailed into Nelson Haven during the first week of November 1841. When the four first immigrant ships – Fifeshire, Mary-Ann, Lord Auckland and Lloyds – arrived three months later, they found the town already laid out with streets, some wooden houses, tents and rough sheds. The town was laid out on a grid plan.[15] Within 18 months, the Company had sent out 18 ships with 1052 men, 872 women and 1384 children. However, fewer than ninety of the settlers had the capital to start as landowners.

Cultural and religious immigrants[edit]

St Paul's Lutheran Church, Upper Moutere

The early settlement of Nelson province included a proportion of German immigrants, who arrived on the ship Sankt Pauli and formed the nucleus of the villages of Sarau (Upper Moutere) and Neudorf. These were mostly Lutheran Protestants with a small number of Bavarian Catholics.[16]

In 1892, the New Zealand Church Mission Society (NZCMS) was formed in a Nelson church hall.[17]

Churches In Nelson, New Zealand:

– Destiny Church Nelson

– Baptist Church Richmond

– Living Faith Church

– The Salvation Army

– Anglican Church

– Holy Family Parish Nelson/Stoke

– Dial-A-Prayer

– Aspire church

– Richmond New Life Church

– Presbyterian – St luke's Union

– NZ Anglican Church Pension Board

– Nelson Spiritualist Church SCNZ

– Grace Communion International

– Quakers Religious Society of Friends

– Richmond Church of Christ

– Old St Peters

– Cathedral Church Wardens

– Seventh Day Adventist Church

– Church of Christ Parkers Road (Nondenomiational)[18]

Problems with land[edit]

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After a brief initial period of prosperity, the lack of land and of capital caught up with the settlement and it entered a prolonged period of relative depression. The labourers had to accept a cut in their wages. Organised immigration ceased (a state of affairs that continued until the 1850s). By the end of 1843, artisans and labourers began leaving Nelson; by 1846, some 25% of the immigrants had moved away.

The pressure to find more arable land became intense. To the south-east of Nelson lay the wide and fertile plains of the Wairau Valley. The New Zealand Company tried to claim that they had purchased the land. The Māori owners stated adamantly that the Wairau Valley had not formed part of the original land sale, and made it clear they would resist any attempts by the settlers to occupy the area. The Nelson settlers led by Arthur Wakefield and Henry Thompson attempted to do just that. This resulted in the Wairau Affray, where 22 settlers and 4 Māori died.[19] The subsequent Government inquiry exonerated the Māori and found that the Nelson settlers had no legitimate claim to any land outside Tasman Bay.[20] Public fears of a Māori attack on Nelson led to the formation of the Nelson Battalion of Militia in 1845.

City[edit]

Church Steps (sometimes called the Cawthron Steps) from Trafalgar Street up to the 60's bell tower of Nelson's Christ Church Cathedral

Nelson township was managed by the Nelson Provincial Council through a Board of Works constituted by the Provincial Government under the Nelson Improvement Act 1856 until 1874. It was proclaimed a Bishop's See and city under letters patent by Queen Victoria on 27 September 1858,[21] the second New Zealand city proclaimed in this manner after Christchurch. Nelson only had some 5,000 residents at this time. Edmund Hobhouse[22] was the first Bishop. The Municipal Corporations Act 1876 stated that Nelson was constituted a city on 30 March 1874.

Coat of arms[edit]

Nelson City has a coat of arms, obtained in 1958 from the College of Arms to mark the Centenary of Nelson as a City. The blazon of the arms is:

"Barry wavy Argent and Azure a Cross Flory Sable on a Chief also Azure a Mitre proper And for the Crest on a Wreath of the Colours Issuant from a Mural Crown proper a Lion rampant Gules holding between the fore paws a Sun in splendour or. The supporters on the dexter side a Huia Bird and on the sinister side a Kotuku both proper."

Motto "Palmam qui meruit ferat" (Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm). This motto is the same as that of Lord Nelson.

Nelson Province[edit]

The Nelson Province as constituted in 1853

From 1853 until 1876, when provincial governments were abolished, Nelson was the capital of Nelson Province. The province itself was much larger than present-day Nelson City and included all of the present-day Buller, Kaikōura, Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman, as well as the Grey District north of the Grey River and the Hurunui District north of the Hurunui River. The Marlborough Province split from Nelson Province in October 1859.

Nelson provincial anniversary[edit]

Nelson Anniversary Day is a public holiday observed in the northern half of the South Island of New Zealand, being the area's provincial anniversary day. It is observed throughout the historic Nelson Province, even though the provinces of New Zealand were abolished in 1876. The modern area of observation includes all of Nelson City and includes all of the present-day Buller, Kaikōura, Marlborough, Tasman districts as well as the Grey District north of the Grey River / Māwheranui and the Hurunui District north of the Hurunui River. The holiday usually falls on the Monday closest to 1 February, the anniversary of the arrival of the first New Zealand Company boat, the Fifeshire on 1 February 1842.[23]

Anniversary celebrations in the early years featured a sailing regatta, horse racing, running races, shooting and ploughing matches. In 1892, the Nelson Jubilee Celebration featured an official week-long programme with church services, sports, concerts, a ball and a grand display of fireworks.

Time gun[edit]

In 1858, the Nelson Provincial Council erected a time gun at the spot on Brittania Heights where, in 1841, Captain Wakefield erected his flagpole. The gun was fired each Saturday at noon to give the correct time. The gun is now preserved as a historical relic and the Songer Tree[24] marks the site on Signal Hill of the original flagpole.[25]

Geography[edit]

The Nelson-Tasman area comprises two unitary authorities – Nelson City, administered by the Nelson City Council, and Tasman District, administered by the Tasman District Council, based in Richmond 15 kilometres (9 miles) to the southwest. It is between Marlborough, another unitary authority, to the east, and the West Coast Regional Council to the west.

For some while,[when?] there has been talk about amalgamating Nelson City and the Tasman District to streamline and render more financially economical the existing co-operation between the two councils,[26][27][28] exemplified by the jointly owned Port Nelson and the creation of Nelson Tasman Tourism, a jointly owned tourism promotion organisation.[29]

However, an official poll conducted in April 2012 showed nearly three-quarters of those who voted in Richmond were opposed to the proposal, with a narrow majority in favour.

Nelson has beaches and a sheltered harbour. The harbour entrance is protected by a Boulder Bank, a natural, 13 km (8 miles) bank of rocks transported south from Mackay Bluff via longshore drift. The bank creates a perfect natural harbour which enticed the first settlers, although the entrance was narrow. The wreck of the Fifeshire on Arrow Rock (now called Fifeshire Rock in memory of this disaster) in 1842 proved the difficulty of the passage.[30] A cut was later made in the bank in 1906 which allowed larger vessels access to the port.

The creation of Rocks Road around the waterfront area after the Tāhunanui slump[31] in 1892 increased the effects of the tide on Nelson city's beach, Tāhunanui, and removed sediment. This meant the popular beach and adjoining car park were being eroded (plus the sand dunes) so a project to replace these sands was put in place and has so far proved a success, with the sand rising a considerable amount and the dunes continuing to grow.

Waterways[edit]

The Nelson territorial authority area is small (just 445 km2) and has four main waterways, the Whangamoa, Wakapuaka, Maitai and Roding Rivers. The Roding River, the southernmost in Nelson, arises in the hills between Mount Meares and Dun Mountain. From there it flows westward before entering the Tasman District where it eventually joins the Waimea River, which flows into Waimea Inlet near Rabbit Island. The Maitai River flows westward from the Dun Mountain area into the town centre of Nelson before entering the Nelson Haven then Tasman Bay via 'The Cut'. Major tributaries of the Maitai River are: York and Brook Streams plus Sharland, Packer, Groom, Glen, Neds, Sclanders, Beauchamp and Mill Creeks. The Wakapuaka River, which flows north from the Saddle Hill area to its mouth at Cable Bay in North Nelson, has two main tributaries, the Lud and Teal Rivers. Entering Tasman Bay near Kokorua in the north of Nelson, the Whangamoa River is the longest waterway in Nelson.

Smaller waterways in the south of Nelson include: Saxton Creek, Orchard Stream, Poorman Valley Stream, Arapiki Stream, Jenkins Creek and Maire Stream.

Central city[edit]

Nelson i-SITE at Millers Acre Centre

The central city of Nelson, also referred to as the central business district (CBD), is bounded by Halifax Street to the north, Rutherford Street to the west, Collingwood Street to the east, and Selwyn Place to the south.[32] Other major streets within the CBD include Trafalgar Street, Bridge Street and Hardy Street.

Suburbs[edit]

Suburbs within Nelson City's territorial area borders are grouped into four city districts:

Nelson North[citation needed]:

Glenduan

Wakapuaka

Todds Valley

Marybank

Atawhai

Dodson Valley

Brooklands

City Centre[citation needed]:

Nelson Central

Port Nelson

Beachville

The Wood

Hanby Park

Maitai

Nelson East

Nelson South

Toi Toi (Victory Village)

Bishopdale

The Brook

Washington Valley

Stepneyville

Britannia Heights

Tāhunanui-Port Hills[citation needed]:

Tāhunanui

Enner Glynn

Moana

Tasman Heights

Annesbrook

Wakatu

Stoke[citation needed]:

Stoke

Greenmeadows Park

Nayland

Monaco

Maitlands

Saxton

The Nelson commuter belt extends to Richmond, Brightwater, Hope, Māpua and Wakefield in the Tasman District.[33]

National parks[edit]

Nelson is surrounded by mountains on three sides and Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere on the fourth, with its region acting as the gateway to the Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and Nelson Lakes National Parks.

It is a centre for both ecotourism and adventure tourism and has a high reputation among caving enthusiasts due to several prominent cave systems around Takaka Hill and the Wharepapa / Arthur Range, including the Nettlebed Cave and some of the largest and deepest explored caverns in the Southern Hemisphere.

Nelson is known for its great lakes, hikes and walks surrounding the town, the most popular being the Abel Tasman Coast Track, Abel Tasman National Park, and Heaphy Track. These tracks are also known for recreational activities. [34] There are many huts and camping grounds in all three tracks for availability to stay in. There are places to fish, hunt and observe nature within the National Parks and Lakes. [35]

Climate[edit]

Nelson has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb), with mild winters and warm summers. Nelson has rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year and has fewer frosts due to the highly marine geography of New Zealand. Winter is the stormiest time, where gales and storms are more common. Nelson has one of the sunniest climates of all major New Zealand centres,[36] earning the nickname 'Sunny Nelson' with an annual average total of over 2400 hours of sunshine.[37] The highest recorded temperature in Nelson is 36.3 °C (97 °F), the lowest −6.6 °C (20 °F).

Climate data for Nelson (1981–2010)

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year

Mean daily maximum °C (°F)

22.4(72.3)

22.6(72.7)

21.0(69.8)

18.1(64.6)

15.6(60.1)

13.1(55.6)

12.5(54.5)

13.4(56.1)

15.0(59.0)

16.9(62.4)

18.9(66.0)

20.7(69.3)

17.5(63.5)

Daily mean °C (°F)

17.8(64.0)

17.9(64.2)

16.1(61.0)

13.2(55.8)

10.5(50.9)

7.9(46.2)

7.2(45.0)

8.4(47.1)

10.4(50.7)

12.4(54.3)

14.3(57.7)

16.4(61.5)

12.7(54.9)

Mean daily minimum °C (°F)

13.2(55.8)

13.3(55.9)

11.3(52.3)

8.3(46.9)

5.5(41.9)

2.7(36.9)

1.9(35.4)

3.4(38.1)

5.7(42.3)

7.8(46.0)

9.8(49.6)

12.0(53.6)

7.9(46.2)

Average precipitation mm (inches)

76.5(3.01)

63.5(2.50)

70.8(2.79)

80.9(3.19)

82.0(3.23)

92.7(3.65)

77.6(3.06)

81.9(3.22)

85.1(3.35)

87.2(3.43)

78.3(3.08)

83.6(3.29)

960.1(37.80)

Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)

6.8

5.8

6.6

6.5

7.3

8.2

7.8

8.6

9.9

9.4

7.9

8.6

93.3

Average relative humidity (%)

74.4

78.5

79.6

83.0

87.8

89.6

90.0

86.6

79.7

76.9

73.7

74.2

81.2

Mean monthly sunshine hours

267.5

231.4

230.4

196.2

175.7

143.3

159.0

182.2

189.3

221.4

234.9

241.1

2,472.4

Source: NIWA Climate Data[38]

"Centre of New Zealand" monument[edit]

The marker at the "Centre of New Zealand"

Nelson has a monument on Botanical Hill, near the centre of the city. The walk to this is called the "Centre of New Zealand walk". Despite the name, this monument does not mark the actual geographic centre of New Zealand.

Instead, the monument marks the "zero, zero" point to which the first geodetic surveys of New Zealand were referenced. These surveys were started in the 1870s by John Spence Browning, the Chief Surveyor for Nelson. From this 360-degree viewpoint, survey marks in neighbouring regions (including Wellington in the North Island) could be triangulated and the local surveys connected.[39]

In 1962, Dr Ian Reilly from the now defunct Department of Scientific and Industrial Research calculated the geographic centre of New Zealand (including Stewart Island and some smaller islands in addition to the North and South Island, but excluding the Chathams) to be in a forest in Spooners Range 35 mi (56 kilometres) southwest of Nelson at 41°30′S 172°50′E / 41.500°S 172.833°E / -41.500; 172.833 (Geographical Centre of New Zealand).[40]

Owing to the coarse nature of the underlying data (use of rectangular areas of 7.5 minutes of arc on each side), the centre calculated by Dr Reilly has quite large error margins. Recalculating the result with more modern and accurate data shows the geographic centre of New Zealand is approximately 60 km southwest of Nelson, in the Big Bush Conservation Area north of Saint Arnaud, New Zealand.[41]

Demographics[edit]

Nelson covers 422.19 km2 (163.01 sq mi)[42] and had an estimated population of 55,600 as of June 2023,[1] with a population density of 132 people per km2.

Historical populationYearPop.±% p.a.199136,459— 199640,278+2.01%200141,568+0.63%200642,888+0.63%201346,437+1.14%201850,880+1.84%Source: [43][44]

A map showing population density in the Nelson and Tasman regions at the 2006 census

Nelson City had a population of 50,880 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 4,443 people (9.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 7,992 people (18.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 19,821 households, comprising 24,804 males and 26,076 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 43.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 9,027 people (17.7%) aged under 15 years, 8,469 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 23,541 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 9,843 (19.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.7% European/Pākehā, 10.7% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, 7.1% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 23.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.2% had no religion, 31.8% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 1.2% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 9,150 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 7,674 (18.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 5,634 people (13.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 19,311 (46.1%) people were employed full-time, 7,119 (17.0%) were part-time, and 1,278 (3.1%) were unemployed.[43]

Economy[edit]

The Nelson economy (and that of the neighbouring Tasman District) is based on the 'big five' industries; seafood, horticulture, forestry, farming and tourism.[45] Port Nelson[46] is the biggest fishing port in Australasia. There are also a range of growth industries, including art and craft, aviation, engineering technology, and information technology. The region is sixth in terms of GDP growth in the 2007–10 period.[47]

The combined sub-national GDP of Nelson and Tasman District was estimated at $3.4 billion in 2010, 1.8% of New Zealand's national GDP.[47][48]

Nelson is home to various business agencies that serve the city and its surrounds,[49] including Nelson Tasman Tourism (NTT),[50] which aims to promote the region and help advertisers reach visitors from New Zealand and overseas,[51] and the Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency (EDA), which works to "coordinate, promote, facilitate, investigate, develop, implement, support and fund initiatives relating to economic development [and] employment growth ... within the Nelson region ..."[52][53]

Below is a list of some of the region's largest companies and employers:

Former regional airline Air Nelson had its headquarters and maintenance base at Nelson Airport.

Helicopters (NZ) has its headquarters and maintenance base at Nelson Airport.

Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda has its New Zealand distribution centre in the Whakatu Industrial Estate in Stoke.

Beverage company McCashins has a microbrewery in Stoke

Sea Dragon Marine Oils[54] has a fish oil refinery in Annesbrook.

The Cawthron Institute has a research facility in The Wood.

Food manufacturer, the Talley's Group has processing facilities at Port Nelson.

The New Zealand King Salmon Company[55] processes Chinook salmon at its factory in Annesbrook.

Pic's Peanut Butter is made in its Stoke, New Zealand factory.

In 2013, Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio worked on a proposal that would see Australian call centres for companies such as Gen-i and Xero relocated to Nelson. The plan was in response to Australian companies moving call and contact centres out of Asia because their Australian customers preferred English-speaking centres. If the plan was successful, Mr Miccio expected 100 to 300 jobs paying NZ$50,000-plus in the first year to be created in Nelson.[56]

Government[edit]

Local[edit]

Further information: Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand

The Nelson City Council Building in 2012

As a unitary authority, the Nelson City Council has the combined responsibilities and functions of both a territorial (local) and regional council. This is different from most other local authorities in New Zealand. More often, a regional council is a separate organisation with several territorial authorities (city or district councils) within its borders. Other unitary authorities are the Auckland Council, Gisborne District Council, Marlborough District Council, Tasman District Council and the Chatham Islands Council.

The Nelson City Council currently holds its elections under the First Past the Post electoral system once every three years, with the most recent election held on 12 October 2019. Electors vote by indicating their choice for Mayor by placing a tick beside one of the names, and the person who receives the most votes becomes Mayor. Councillors are elected the same way, but voters could cast multiple votes, with the 12 candidates who each receive the most votes becoming Councillors. Voters in this system may vote for no more than 12 candidates. The elections are conducted by post over a three-week period to make it as convenient as possible for people to vote.

The other option permitted under the Local Electoral Act 2001, but not currently used in Nelson, is the Single Transferable Vote system. Multiple-member districts are used. Electors vote by ranking candidates in order of preference by placing a number beside candidates' names. The elector can mark a preference for one or up to the total number of candidates on the paper. The number of votes required for a candidate to be elected, the quota, depends on the number of positions to be filled and the number of valid votes. (Election of mayor may be held using the Instant-runoff vote method.)

Under the Local Electoral Act 2002, the Nelson City Council can resolve to change the electoral system to be used for the next two elections, and it must review this decision every six years. A referendum was held in 2003 to decide which electoral system would be used for the 2004 and 2007 Nelson City Council elections. The outcome was that the First Past the Post system was retained. The 2008 review retains that system for the 2010 and 2013 elections.[57]

On 12 October 2013, Rachel Reese was elected as Nelson's first woman mayor after receiving 1,500 votes more than incumbent mayor Aldo Miccio.[58]

As of 13 October 2022, the current council members for the 2022 to 2025 term are:

Mayor

Nick Smith

Deputy Mayor

Rohan O'Neill-Stevens

Councillors

Matty Anderson Matthew Benge Trudie Brand Mel Courtney James Hodgson Kahu Paki Paki Pete Rainey Campbell Rollo Rachel Sanson Tim Skinner Aaron Stallard

National[edit]

Nelson is covered by one general electorate: Nelson and one Māori electorate: Te Tai Tonga.

As of the 2020 general election, Nelson is held by Rachel Boyack of the Labour Party. The Māori electorate Te Tai Tonga, which covers the entire South Island and part of Wellington in the North Island, is currently held by Labour and represented by Rino Tirikatene.

Culture and the arts[edit]

Suter Art Gallery, before its 2017 renovation

As the major regional centre, the city offers many lodgings, restaurants, and unique speciality shopping such as at the Jens Hansen Goldsmiths where "The One Ring" in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was designed.[59]

Nelson has a vibrant local music and arts scene and is known nationwide for its culturally idiosyncratic craftsmen. These include potters, glass blowers (such as Flamedaisy Glass Design and Höglund Art Glass Studio & Gallery), and dozens of wood carvers using native New Zealand southern beech and exotic macrocarpa.

Nelson is a popular visitor destination and year-round attracts both New Zealanders and international tourists.[60]

The Nelson Saturday Market is a popular weekly market where one can buy direct from local artists.[61]

The Theatre Royal was restored in 2010 and is the oldest wooden functioning theatre in the Southern Hemisphere (built 1878)[62]

Art organisations include the Suter Art Gallery[63] and Nelson Arts Festival.[64]

The Victory Village community received the 2010 New Zealander of the Year award for Community of the Year.[65]

The first rugby union match in New Zealand took place at the Botanic Reserve in Nelson on 14 May 1870, between the Nelson Suburbs FC and Nelson College, and an informative commemorative plaque was renovated at the western edge of the grassed area by Nelson City Council in 2006.[66]

Marae[edit]

Whakatū Marae, in the suburb of Atawhai, is the marae (meeting ground) of Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui. It includes the Kākāti wharenui (meeting house).

In October 2020, the Government committed $240,739 from the Provincial Growth Fund to restore the marae, creating an estimated 9 jobs.[67]

Events and festivals[edit]

Several major events take place:

Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival[68] – January

Nelson Kite Festival[69] – January

Nelson Yacht Regatta[70] – January

Baydreams-Nelson – January [71]

Taste Tasman – January [72]

Evolve Festival – January [73]

Adam Chamber Music Festival[74] – biennial – January / February

International Kai Festival – February [75]

Weet-bix Kids TRYathlon – March [76]

Evolve Festival[77] – February

Marchfest[78] – March

Taste Nelson festival[79] – March

Te Ramaroa Light Festival – biennial in June/July

Winter Music Festival[80] – July

Nelson Arts Festival – October

NZ Cider Festival – November [81]

Nelson A&P Show – November [82]

More information about Events in Nelson, New Zealand can be found here. [83]

World of Wearable Art Awards[edit]

The annual World of Wearable Art Awards was founded in Nelson in 1987 by Suzie Moncrieff. The first show was held at the restored William Higgins cob cottage in Spring Grove, near Brightwater.[84][85] The show moved to Wellington in 2005 when it became too big to hold in Nelson.[84] A local museum showcased winning designs alongside their collection of classic cars until the venture was forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The classic car museum re-opened in 2020.[86][87][88]

Architecture[edit]

Rutherford Hotel

The tallest building in Nelson is the 40 m (130 feet) tall Rutherford Hotel located on the west edge of Trafalgar Square. Unlike many towns and cities in New Zealand, Nelson has retained many Victorian buildings in its historic centre and the South Street area has been designated as having heritage value.[89]

Surviving historic buildings[edit]

Amber House, a weatherboard colonial characteristic of much of New Zealand's residential architecture

Nelson Cathedral

Amber House

Broadgreen House

Cabragh House

Chez Eelco

Fairfield House[90]

Founders Park Windmill

Isel House

Melrose House

Nelson Central School Renwick House

Theatre Royal

Victorian Rose Pub

Redwood College (Founders Park)

Nelson Centre of Musical Arts (formerly Nelson School of Music) Est. 1894[91]

Museums[edit]

The Nelson region houses several museums.

The Founders Heritage Park houses a number of groups with historical themes, including transport.

The Nelson Provincial Museum houses a collection of locally significant artefacts.

The Nelson Classic Car Museum houses a collection of collectable cars.[92]

Parks and zoo[edit]

Founders Heritage Park

Nelson has a large number and variety of public parks and reserves maintained at public expense by Nelson City Council.[93] Major reserves include Grampians Reserve, close to the suburb of Braemar, and the botanical Reserve in the east of Nelson, close to The Wood.

Natureland Zoological Park is a small zoological facility close to Tāhunanui Beach. The facility is popular with children, where they can closely approach wallabies, monkeys, meerkats, llamas and alpacas, Kune Kune pigs, otters, and peacocks. There are also turtles, tropical fish and a walk through aviary.[94] Although the zoo nearly closed in 2008, the Orana Wildlife Trust took over its running instead.[95] It looked like[to whom?] a bright future ahead for Natureland and its staff, but since the repeated earthquakes in Christchurch in 2011 and the damage to Orana Park, Orana Wildlife Trust are uncertain of the future of Natureland.[96]

Orana Wildlife trust have since pulled out of Natureland, which is now run independently.

Sister cities[edit]

Nelson has sister city relationships with:[97]

Miyazu, Japan (1976)

Huangshi, China (1996)

Yangjiang, China (2014)

Sport[edit]

Major sports teams[edit]

Club

Sport

Founded

League

Venue

Nelson Cricket Association

Cricket

1858

Hawke Cup

Saxton Oval

Nelson Giants

Basketball

1982

National Basketball League

Trafalgar Centre

Nelson Suburbs FC

Football

1962

Mainland Premier League Chatham Cup

Saxton Field

Tasman Mako

Rugby

2006

Mitre 10 Cup

Trafalgar Park

Tasman Titans

Rugby league

1995

Rugby League Cup

Tasman United

Football

2015

ISPS Handa Premiership

Trafalgar Park

Major venues[edit]

Image

Venue

Saxton Oval

The Trafalgar Centre

Trafalgar Park

Theatre Royal

Infrastructure and services[edit]

Healthcare[edit]

The main hospital in Nelson is the Nelson Hospital. It is the seat of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.

The Manuka Street Hospital is a private institution.

Law enforcement[edit]

The Nelson Central Police Station, located in St John Street, is the headquarters for the Tasman Police District.[98] The Tasman Police District has the lowest crime rate within New Zealand.[99]

Gangs[edit]

Several gangs have established themselves in Nelson. They include the now disbanded Lost Breed and the Red Devils a support club for the Hells Angels. The Rebels Motorcycle Club also has a presence in the wider Nelson-Tasman area.[100]

Electricity[edit]

The Nelson City Municipal Electricity Department (MED) established the city's public electricity supply in 1923, with electricity generated by a coal-fired power station at Wakefield Quay. The city was connected to the newly commissioned Cobb hydroelectric power station in 1944 and to the rest of the South Island grid in 1958. The grid connection saw the Wakefield Quay power station was relegated to standby duty before being decommissioned in 1964.[101][102]

Today, Nelson Electricity operates the local distribution network in the former MED area, which covers the CBD and inner suburbs, while Network Tasman operates the local distribution network in the outer suburbs (including Stoke, Tāhunanui and Atawhai) and rural areas.[101][103]

Transport[edit]

Air transport[edit]

Nelson Airport is located southwest of the city, at Annesbrook. The airport operates a single terminal and 1,347-metre (4,420 ft) runway, and in 2018 was the fifth-busiest airport in New Zealand by passenger numbers.[104] There are more than a million passenger movements using the airport terminal annually and the airport averages 90 aircraft movements every day, with a plane taking off or landing every 4.5 minutes during scheduled hours.

It is primarily used for domestic flights, with regular flights to and from Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Kapiti Coast, Palmerston North and Wellington. Nelson Airport is home to Air Nelson, which operates and maintains New Zealand's largest domestic airline fleet and was also the headquarters of Origin Pacific Airways until their collapse in 2006. Sounds Air offers flights from Nelson to Wellington.

In 2006, the airport received restricted international airport status to facilitate small private jets.

In February 2018, the approach road to the airport was flooded when the adjoining Jenkins Creek burst its banks during a storm that brought king tides and strong winds. The airport was closed for about one hour.[105] In 2022, the NZ SeaRise programme identified Nelson airport as one area of particular vulnerability to sea level rise, with a projected subsidence of 5 millimetres (0.20 in) per year.[106] The airport's Chief Executive said that the proposed runway extension would be planned around the latest sea level rise forecast, and that the airport was "here to stay", despite the concerns over the threats posed by sea level rise.[106]

Maritime transport[edit]

Port Nelson is the maritime gateway for the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions and a vital hub for economic activity. The following shipping companies call at Port Nelson:

Australian National Line / CMA CGM

Maersk Line

Mediterranean Shipping Company

Pacifica Shipping

Toyofuji Shipping

Swire Shipping

In the mid-1994, a group of local businessmen, fronted by local politician Owen Jennings proposed building a deep-water port featuring a one-kilometre-long wharf extending from the Boulder Bank into Tasman Bay, where giant ships could berth and manoeuvre with ease. Known as Port Kakariki, the $97 million project was to become the hub to ship West Coast coal to Asia, as well as handling logs, which would be barged across Tasman Bay from Mapua.[107]

In January 2010, the Western Blue Highway, a Nelson to New Plymouth ferry service, was proposed by Port Taranaki. However, to date, neither the Interislander nor Bluebridge have shown any interest in the route.[108]

Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company[edit]

Nelson (band) - Wikipedia

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1Band history

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1.1Early years

1.2Record deal and success with After the Rain

1.3Struggles with Geffen and Imaginator

1.4Independent releases

1.5Later years

2Discography

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2.1Albums

2.2Other releases

2.2.1as The Nelsons

2.2.2as Matthew & Gunnar Nelson

2.3Compilations

2.4Live albums

2.5Singles

2.6Guest singles

3Music videos

4Band members

5References

6External links

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American rock band

NelsonMatthew Nelson (left) in 2009 and Gunnar Nelson (right) in 2007Background informationOriginSanta Monica, California, U.S.GenresGlam metal,[1][2][3] hard rock,[4] pop rock[5]Years active1986–presentLabelsGeffen, Victor Entertainment, Fuel 2000, Perris Records, Stone Canyon, FrontiersMembers

Matthew Nelson

Gunnar Nelson

Websitematthewandgunnarnelson.com

Nelson is an American rock band founded by singer/songwriters Matthew and Gunnar Nelson (twin sons of Ricky Nelson and Kristin Nelson). The band achieved success during the early 1990s with their debut album After the Rain, that included "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection".[6]

After the success of their first album, the band claims to have been faced with conflicts with their record label, lack of support from the media, and the shift in music towards grunge and alternative rock. They eventually split with Geffen Records in 1995. Despite this, the band has continued to produce and release albums independently under their own label, Stone Canyon Records.[7]

Matthew and Gunnar also perform under the name of Ricky Nelson Remembered, as a tribute to their father. They are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the only family to reach number one record status in three successive generations (beginning with grandparents Ozzie and Harriet Nelson).

Band history[edit]

Early years[edit]

Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the twin sons of Ricky Nelson and Kristin Nelson, were involved in music from an early age. In an interview, Gunnar once said that he and Matthew had been writing songs since they were six years old.[7]

During the 1980s, Matthew and Gunnar played as Strange Agents and as The Nelsons, with which they played the Los Angeles club scene. A year after the death of their father in a plane crash, Lorne Michaels agreed to have the Nelsons as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, at the request of their manager at the time. They became the first unsigned band to play on the show.

During this iteration of the band, Matthew was the lead singer and bassist, while Gunnar played the drums. As they returned home from the show, Gunnar claims he had what he called "an epiphany", which he shared with his brother. He told him that they should break up the band as it was and start sharing the front stage together. Gunnar promised to learn to play guitar and did so in a year.[7][8]

As the band tried to find a record deal, they settled with Geffen Records and began approaching A&R executive John Kalodner. According to Gunnar, they met with Kalodner "every month for a year", during which he filtered the songs they brought him until they had enough for an album.[9] During this time, they were also introduced to Marc Tanner, who helped them polish their songwriting skills.[7]

During this time, Nelson was also approached to contribute a song to the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Matthew and Gunnar then co-wrote a song with Dweezil Zappa called "Two Heads are Better than One". Since the band was in the process of being signed up to Geffen, Kalodner recommended them not to use their names for the song, so they were billed as Power Tool instead. The song eventually became the film's theme song.[7][10]

Record deal and success with After the Rain[edit]

After a year of meeting with Kalodner without being signed, Matthew and Gunnar met with him, against the wishes of their managers, and played an acoustic version of "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection". Kalodner was impressed and the band was signed the next day.[9]

As the Nelsons prepared to go into the studio, they started assembling a band. They met drummer Bobby Rock at the MTV Music Awards, when he was still with Vinnie Vincent Invasion, and kept in touch. After that band broke up, Nelson asked him to join their band. Joey Cathcart had played guitar with the brothers in high school so they decided to approach him. They were introduced to guitarist Brett Garsed by their manager in Australia. Finally, they contacted Paul Mirkovich, who had worked with them during the demo sessions for the album.[9][11]

The full band headed to the studio where they worked with Marc Tanner. According to the Nelsons, John Kalodner "basically let us do our own thing".[9] After the Rain was released on June 26, 1990, and became an instant success. The album ended up selling more than 3,000,000 copies, eventually being certified double platinum by RIAA. As a result, the band began a World Tour with over 300 concerts. Their first single, "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" peaked at number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100. Their other songs "After the Rain", "More than Ever", and "Only Time Will Tell" peaked at number 6, number 14, and number 28 respectively. The band started with a headlining club tour before heading out in April/May opening arenas for Cinderella & Lynch Mob. The brothers then finished the summer headlining their own tour with support from Tyketto & Enuff Z'Nuff.

They performed "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" on the inaugural Billboard Music Awards as it was the number 1 song on the Hot 100 the week of the show.[citation needed] The show's producer, Paul Flattery, and director, Jim Yukich, had also made the music video for the song.

Struggles with Geffen and Imaginator[edit]

After several years of touring, the band went into the studio to record their follow-up. The result of this was a darker and harder concept album titled Imaginator. According to Gunnar "it was about the machine that is the media. That same machine that built us up and was also so ready to tear us down." According to the band, producer John Kalodner was not involved with the recording process because he "was too busy making Aerosmith records". When they presented the album to the executives at Geffen Records, they were not pleased and gave the band the choice to either produce and record another album, more according to what they were expecting, or they would be released from their contract.[7][9][10]

I'm proud of that record [Because They Can]. I think it's a great record for what it is. But I was given the mandate by John Kalodner, "You're not allowed to play any crunchy guitar on this record at all. It's got to be acoustic and organic, and that's it!"

Gunnar Nelson (guitarist/singer)[7]

Gunnar has said that they left "frustrated and helpless", but decided to return to the studio. They began working on a more acoustic-oriented album, which was, according to Gunnar, "180 degrees in the opposite direction of Imaginator". The result was the album Because They Can, which ended up being released in 1995, five years after their first album. Kalodner left Geffen a week before the release of the album, and the label decided to give the album limited promotion.[7][9]

Shortly after, Geffen released Nelson from their contract. Gunnar refers to this as "one of the best days of my life." Shortly after leaving Geffen, Nelson finally released Imaginator through Victor Entertainment. The band considers the album a representation of their live sound at that time.[9]

Independent releases[edit]

The band then established their own record label, Stone Canyon Records, though they continued to license their albums in Japan through Victor. In 1997, they released their first album under their own label, titled The Silence is Broken. The Nelsons consider it an "experiment" and a "transitional" album.[9]

In 1998, Matthew and Gunnar started compiling a collection of demos with the purpose of doing a joint venture deal in Nashville. The result became a country album, Brother Harmony, in which they are billed as The Nelsons, which was later released in 2000. The next year, they released Life, which was their final album with Victor. Gunnar has referred to this album in interviews as a "take no prisoners pop/rock album".[7][9]

Matthew and Gunnar followed this with a tribute album to their father, Ricky Nelson. The album, titled Like Father, Like Sons, was released in 2000.

In 2003, Gunnar Nelson composed and performed "Team Chaotix", the main theme of the Chaotix team, along with Crush 40's guitarist Jun Senoue, in the video game Sonic Heroes.[12]

In 2004, the brothers went out on the road for the summer opening for Styx and Peter Frampton in arenas.

Later years[edit]

In 2010, Nelson reached a record deal with Frontiers Records. They released three albums almost consecutively. The first, Before the Rain, is a collection of demos made during the After the Rain sessions. The second one is Perfect Storm, which is a compilation of live recordings from the After the Rain world tour. This is notable because, despite being such a massive world tour that covered almost 300 dates across the world, no official recording was made of it. The third album was a new studio album called Lightning Strikes Twice, which features new material from the band. It is the first original studio album from the band since Life was released in 1999.

The release of the three albums in 2010 coincided with the band's official anniversary. For it, they organized a 20th Anniversary Tour around several countries. Singer/guitarist Mark Slaughter joined Nelson for the tour, which began at the Firefest in Nottingham, England.[13]

In addition to touring as Nelson, the twin singer-songwriters also perform a separate tribute act for their father, called Ricky Nelson Remembered. Additionally, they perform with celebrity all-star rock band Scrap Metal.[14]

In 2015, the band released their final album with Frontiers, Peace Out. That same year, the brothers released a Christmas album titled This Christmas; it was followed up with a deluxe edition the following year titled This Christmas Too.

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

After the Rain (1990) No. 17 US – RIAA: Double Platinum, AUS No. 100[15]

Because They Can (1995)

Imaginator (1996; recorded 1992)

The Silence Is Broken (1997)

Life (1999)

Lightning Strikes Twice (2010)

Peace Out (2015)

Other releases[edit]

as The Nelsons[edit]

Brother Harmony (2000)

as Matthew & Gunnar Nelson[edit]

Like Father, Like Sons (2000)

This Christmas (2015)

This Christmas Too (2016)

Compilations[edit]

20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nelson (2004)

Before the Rain: The Demos 1986-1990 (2010)

Greatest Hits (And Near Misses) (2022)

Live albums[edit]

Perfect Storm – After the Rain World Tour 1991 (2010)

Singles[edit]

Year

Song

USRock

CAN

AUS[15][16]

UK[17]

Album

1990

"(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection"

After the Rain

"After the Rain"

—

1991

"More Than Ever"

191

—

"Only Time Will Tell"

—

124

—

1995

"(You Got Me) All Shook Up"

104[18]

—

Because They Can

"Cross My Broken Heart"

—

"Won't Walk Away"

—

Guest singles[edit]

Year

Song

Artist

US Hot 100

US AC

Can RPM 100

Album

1991

"Voices That Care"

Various artists

single only

Music videos[edit]

Year

Video

Director

1991

"Voices That Care"(Various Artists)

Jim Yukich

Band members[edit]

Current members

Matthew Nelson – lead vocals, bass guitar, guitars

Gunnar Nelson – lead vocals, guitars, drums, keyboards, piano

Former members

Brett Garsed – guitars, backing vocals

Joey Cathcart – guitars, backing vocals (died in May 2021)

Paul Mirkovich – keyboards, piano, backing vocals

Bobby Rock – drums

References[edit]

^ McPadden, Mike (September 21, 2015). "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 1". VH1 News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

^ Crigler, Pete (February 2015). "Hair Metal: I Remember You: The Legacy of Cock Rock". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

^ Popoff, Martin (2014). The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal's Debauched Decade. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press. pp. 182, 190. ISBN 978-1-62788-375-7. OCLC 891379313.

^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door. London: Omnibus. p. 461. ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2. OCLC 804890832.

^ Chan, Anna (June 26, 2020). "Matthew & Gunnar Nelson Reflect on 'After the Rain' at 30: 'Love & Affection' 'Wasn't Even Going to Make the Album'". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2021. But their colorful look and pop-rock sound also confused people

^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Riaa.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.

^ a b c d e f g h i "The Popdose Interview: Gunnar Nelson". Popdose. February 11, 2011.

^ "Interview with Gunnar Nelson". Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. February 21, 2011.

^ a b c d e f g h i "Gunnar Nelson: The Nelson Interview". Melodic Rock. 2001.

^ a b "Gunnar Nelson of Nelson". They Will Rock You. January 25, 2011.

^ "Bobby Rock Interview". Full in Bloom. Retrieved July 1, 2012.

^ "Sonic Heroes - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2019.

^ "Mark Slaughter joins Nelson 20th Anniversary Tour". Bring Back Glam. June 7, 2010.

^ "Scrap Metal Biography". Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.

^ a b Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:

Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Nelson in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 200.

"After the Rain" (single): "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 17 Feb 1991 (61–100)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved February 21, 2018. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.

^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing August 5, 1991". Retrieved August 6, 2022.

"Only Time Will Tell": "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing September 23, 1991". Retrieved September 25, 2022.

^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 389. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 1, 1995. p. 117. Retrieved December 28, 2023 – via Google Books.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nelson (band).

Official website

Gunnar Nelson Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2018)

Matthew Nelson Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2018)

vteNelson

Matthew Nelson

Gunnar Nelson

Joey Cathcart

Brett Garsed

Paul Mirkovich

Bobby Rock

Studio albums

After the Rain (1990)

Because They Can (1995)

Imaginator (1996)

Singles

"(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection"

"After the Rain"

Authority control databases: Artists

MusicBrainz

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nelson_(band)&oldid=1197413198"

Categories: American rock music duosGlam metal musical groups from CaliforniaHard rock musical groups from CaliforniaIdentical twin malesMusical groups established in 1986Musical duos from CaliforniaTwin musical duosAmerican twinsMale musical duosFrontiers Records artistsGeffen Records artistsHeavy metal duosHidden categories: Articles with short descriptionShort description matches WikidataUse mdy dates from July 2021Articles with hCardsPages using infobox musical artist with associated actsAll articles with unsourced statementsArticles with unsourced statements from May 2021Commons category link from WikidataOfficial website different in Wikidata and WikipediaArticles with MusicBrainz identifiers

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1Early life

2East and West Indies, 1771–1780

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2.1Nelson's views on slavery

3Command, 1781–1796

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3.1Captain of Albemarle

3.2Island of Nevis, marriage and peace

4Mediterranean service

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4.1Corsica

4.2Genoa and the fight of the Ça Ira

4.3Skirmishes and the retreat from Italy

4.4Jervis and the evacuation of the Mediterranean

5Admiral, 1797–1801

Toggle Admiral, 1797–1801 subsection

5.1Battle of Cape St Vincent

5.2Action off Cadiz

5.3Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

5.4Return to England

6The Mediterranean

Toggle The Mediterranean subsection

6.1Hunting the French

6.2The Battle of the Nile

6.3Rewards

6.4Neapolitan campaign

6.5Siege of Malta

6.6Return to England

7The Baltic

Toggle The Baltic subsection

7.1Battle of Copenhagen

8Leave in England, 1801–1803

Toggle Leave in England, 1801–1803 subsection

8.1Grand tour

8.2Witness at the treason trial of Edward Despard

9Return to sea, 1803

10Battle of Trafalgar, 1805

Toggle Battle of Trafalgar, 1805 subsection

10.1Preparation

10.2Battle is joined

10.3Wounding and death

11Return to England

12Funeral

13Assessment

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13.1Legacy

14Titles

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14.1Armorial bearings

15See also

16Notes

17References

18Bibliography

19Further reading

20External links

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Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

British Royal Navy admiral (1758–1805)

Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Horatio Nelson (disambiguation), Lord Nelson (disambiguation), and Admiral Nelson (disambiguation).

The Right HonourableThe Viscount NelsonKBPortrait of Nelson by L. F. Abbott (1799)Born29 September [O.S. 17 September] 1758Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, Great BritainDied21 October 1805(1805-10-21) (aged 47)HMS Victory, off Cape Trafalgar, SpainBurial placeSt Paul's Cathedral, London, EnglandSpouse

Frances Nisbet (m. 1787)ParentsEdmund Nelson (father)Catherine Suckling (mother)Military careerService/branchRoyal NavyYears of service1771–1805RankVice-admiral of the WhiteCommands heldMediterranean FleetBattles/wars

First Anglo-Maratha War

American War of Independence

Battle of Fort San Juan

Battle of Grand Turk

War of the First Coalition

Siege of Toulon

Action of 22 October 1793

Siege of Bastia

Siege of Calvi (WIA)

Battle of Genoa

Battle of Hyères Islands

Action of 31 May 1796

Action of 19 December 1796

Battle of Cape St Vincent (WIA)

Assault on Cádiz

Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (WIA)

War of the Second Coalition

Battle of the Nile (WIA)

Neapolitan campaign

Battle of the Malta Convoy

Siege of Malta

Battle of Copenhagen

Raid on Boulogne

War of the Third Coalition

Battle of Trafalgar †

AwardsOrder of the Bath

Several others (see below)

Signature

Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte KB (29 September [O.S. 18 September] 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics brought about a number of decisive British naval victories during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest naval commanders in history. His victory on 21 October 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar led to British naval supremacy for over another century and beyond.

Nelson was born into a moderately prosperous Norfolk family and joined the navy through the influence of his uncle, Maurice Suckling, a high-ranking naval officer. Nelson rose rapidly through the ranks and served with leading naval commanders of the period before obtaining his own command at the age of 20, in 1778. He developed a reputation for personal valour and a firm grasp of tactics, but suffered periods of illness and unemployment after the end of the American War of Independence. The outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars allowed Nelson to return to service, where he was particularly active in the Mediterranean. He fought in several minor engagements off Toulon and was important in the capture of Corsica, where he was wounded and partially lost sight in one eye, and subsequent diplomatic duties with the Italian states. In 1797, he distinguished himself while in command of HMS Captain at the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Shortly after that battle, Nelson took part in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where the attack failed and he lost his right arm, forcing him to return to England to recuperate. The following year he won a decisive victory over the French at the Battle of the Nile and remained in the Mediterranean to support the Kingdom of Naples against a French invasion.

In 1801, Nelson was dispatched to the Baltic Sea and defeated neutral Denmark at the Battle of Copenhagen. He commanded the blockade of the French and Spanish fleets at Toulon and, after their escape, chased them to the West Indies and back but failed to bring them to battle. After a brief return to England, he took over the Cádiz blockade, in 1805. On 21 October 1805, the Franco-Spanish fleet came out of port, and Nelson's fleet engaged them at the Battle of Trafalgar. The battle became one of Britain's greatest naval victories, but Nelson, aboard HMS Victory, was fatally wounded by a French sharpshooter. His body was brought back to England, where he was accorded a state funeral.

Nelson's death at Trafalgar secured his position as one of Britain's most heroic figures. His signal just prior to the commencement of the battle, "England expects that every man will do his duty", is regularly quoted and paraphrased. Numerous monuments, including Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London, and the Nelson Monument in Edinburgh, have been created in his memory.

Early life[edit]

The site of the rectory in Burnham Thorpe where Nelson was born in 1758

Horatio Nelson was born on 29 September [O.S. 18 September] 1758, at a rectory in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England; the sixth of eleven children of the Reverend Edmund Nelson and his wife, Catherine Suckling.[1] He was named "Horatio" after his godfather Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1723–1809),[2] the first cousin of his maternal great-grandmother Anne Turner (1691–1768). Horatio Walpole was a nephew of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, the de facto first prime minister of Great Britain.[3] Nelson retained a strong Christian faith throughout his life.[4]

Nelson's uncle Maurice Suckling was a high-ranking naval officer, and is believed to have had a major impact on Nelson's life.[5]

Catherine Suckling lived in the village of Barsham, Suffolk, and married the Reverend Edmund Nelson at Beccles Church, Suffolk, in 1749.[6]

Nelson attended Paston Grammar School, North Walsham, until he was 12 years old, and also attended King Edward VI's Grammar School in Norwich. His naval career began on 1 January 1771, when he reported to the newly commissioned third-rate HMS Raisonnable as an ordinary seaman and coxswain under his maternal uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling, who commanded the vessel. Shortly after reporting aboard, Nelson was appointed a midshipman, and began officer training. Early in his service, Nelson discovered that he experienced seasickness, a chronic complaint that he experienced for the rest of his life.[7]

East and West Indies, 1771–1780[edit]

Raisonnable had been commissioned during a period of tension with Spain, but when this passed, Suckling was transferred to the Nore guardship HMS Triumph and Nelson was dispatched to serve aboard the West Indiaman Mary Ann of the merchant shipping firm of Hibbert, Purrier and Horton, in order to gain experience at sea.[8] He sailed from Medway, Kent, on 25 July 1771, heading to Jamaica and Tobago, and returning to Plymouth on 7 July 1772.[9] He twice crossed the Atlantic, before returning to serve under his uncle as the commander of Suckling's longboat, which carried men and dispatches, to and from shore. Nelson then learnt of a planned expedition, under the command of Constantine Phipps, intended to survey a passage in the Arctic by which it was hoped that India could be reached: the fabled North-East Passage.[10]

At his nephew's request, Suckling arranged for Nelson to join the expedition as coxswain[10] to Commander Skeffington Lutwidge aboard the converted bomb vessel, HMS Carcass. The expedition reached within ten degrees of the North Pole, but, unable to find a way through the dense ice floes, was forced to turn back. By 1800, Lutwidge had begun to circulate a story that, while the ship had been trapped in the ice, Nelson had spotted and pursued a polar bear, before being ordered to return to the ship. Later, in 1809, Lutwidge had it that Nelson, and a companion, gave chase to the bear and upon being questioned as to why, replied: "I wished, Sir, to get the skin for my father."[11]

Nelson briefly returned to Triumph, after the expedition's return to Britain, in September 1773. Suckling then arranged for his transfer to HMS Seahorse; one of two ships about to sail for the East Indies.[12]

Captain Horatio Nelson, painted by John Francis Rigaud in 1781, with Fort San Juan—the scene of his most notable achievement up to that point—in the background. The painting itself was begun and nearly finished prior to the battle, when Nelson held the rank of lieutenant; when Nelson returned, the artist added the new captain's gold-braided sleeves.[13]

Nelson sailed for the East Indies on 19 November 1773, and arrived at the British outpost at Madras on 25 May 1774.[14] Nelson and Seahorse spent the rest of the year cruising off the coast and escorting merchantmen. With the outbreak of the First Anglo-Maratha War, the British fleet operated in support of the East India Company and in early 1775, Seahorse was dispatched to carry a cargo of the company's money to Bombay. On 19 February, two of Hyder Ali's ketches attacked Seahorse, which drove them off after a brief exchange of fire. This was Nelson's first experience of battle.[15]

Nelson spent the rest of the year escorting convoys, during which he continued to develop his navigation and ship handling skills. In early 1776, he contracted malaria and became seriously ill. He was discharged from Seahorse on 14 March and returned to England aboard HMS Dolphin.[16] Nelson spent the six-month voyage recuperating and had almost recovered by the time he arrived in Britain, in September. His patron, Suckling, had risen to the post of Comptroller of the Navy in 1775, and used his influence to help Nelson gain further promotion.[3][17] Nelson was appointed acting lieutenant aboard HMS Worcester, which was about to sail to Gibraltar.[18]

Worcester, under the command of Captain Mark Robinson, sailed as a convoy escort on 3 December, and returned with another convoy in April 1777.[19] Nelson then travelled to London to take his lieutenant's examination on 9 April; his examining board consisted of Captains John Campbell, Abraham North, and his uncle, Suckling. Nelson passed the examination, and the next day received his commission, and an appointment to HMS Lowestoffe, which was preparing to sail to Jamaica, under Captain William Locker.[20] She sailed on 16 May, arrived on 19 July, and after reprovisioning, carried out several cruises in Caribbean waters. After the outbreak of the American War of Independence, Lowestoffe took several prizes, one of which was taken into Navy service as Little Lucy. Nelson asked for, and was given, command of her, and took her on two cruises of his own.[21]

As well as giving him his first taste of command, it gave Nelson the opportunity to explore his fledgling interest in science. During his first cruise in command of Little Lucy, Nelson led an expeditionary party to the Caicos Islands,[22] where he made detailed notes of the wildlife and in particular a bird—now believed to be the white-necked jacobin.[23] Locker, impressed by Nelson's abilities, recommended him to the new commander-in-chief at Jamaica, Sir Peter Parker. Parker duly took Nelson onto his flagship, HMS Bristol.[24] The entry of the French into the war, in support of the Americans, meant further targets for Parker's fleet. It took many prizes towards the end of 1778, which brought Nelson an estimated £400 (equivalent to £54,200 in 2021) in prize money. Parker appointed him as master and commander of the brig HMS Badger on 8 December.[25]

Nelson and Badger spent most of 1779 cruising off of the Central American coast, ranging as far as the British settlements at British Honduras (now Belize), and Nicaragua, but without much success at interception of enemy prizes.[26] On his return to Port Royal, he learnt that Parker had promoted him to post-captain on 11 June, and intended to give him another command. Nelson handed over the Badger to Cuthbert Collingwood, while he awaited the arrival of his new ship: the 28-gun frigate HMS Hinchinbrook,[a] newly captured from the French.[27] While Nelson waited, news reached Parker that a French fleet under the command of Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing, was approaching Jamaica. Parker hastily organized his defences and placed Nelson in command of Fort Charles, which covered the approaches to Kingston.[28] D'Estaing instead headed north, and the anticipated invasion never materialised.

Nelson took command of the Hinchinbrook on 1 September 1779.[29] Hinchinbrook sailed from Port Royal on 5 October and, in company with other British ships, proceeded to capture a number of American prizes.[30] On his return to Jamaica in December, Nelson began to be troubled by recurrent attacks of malaria. Nelson remained in the West Indies in order to take part in Major-General John Dalling's attempt to capture the Spanish colonies in Central America, including an assault on the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception on the San Juan River in Nicaragua.[31]

In February 1780, Hinchinbrook sailed from Jamaica as an escort for Dalling's invasion force. After sailing up the mouth of the San Juan River, Nelson’s expeditionary force obtained the surrender of the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception and its 160 Spanish defenders after a two-week siege.[32] Despite this initial success, the British forces never reached Lake Nicaragua and, decimated by yellow fever, were forced to return to Jamaica. The British destroyed the fortress when they evacuated in January 1781. The failed campaign cost the lives of more than 2,500 men, making it the costliest British disaster of the entire war.[33] Despite this, Nelson was praised for his efforts.[34]

Parker recalled Nelson and gave him command of the 44-gun frigate, HMS Janus.[35] In 1780, Nelson fell seriously ill with what seemed to be dysentery[36] and possibly yellow fever,[37] in the jungles of Costa Rica, and was unable to take command. He was taken to Kingston, Jamaica, to be nursed by "doctoress" Cubah Cornwallis, a rumoured mistress of fellow captain William Cornwallis;[38] she ran a combination lodging-house and convalescence home for sailors.[39][37] He was discharged in August and returned to Britain aboard HMS Lion,[40] arriving in late November. Nelson gradually recovered over several months, and soon began agitating for a command. He was appointed to the frigate HMS Albemarle on 15 August 1781.[41]

Nelson's views on slavery[edit]

While Nelson served in the West Indies, he came into contact with several prominent white colonists residing there, forming friendships with many of them. These relationships led Nelson to absorb their proslavery views, particularly the view that slavery was necessary to the islands' economic prosperity. According to Grindal, Nelson later used his social influence to counter the emerging abolitionist movement in Britain.[42] University of Southampton academic Christer Petley contextualises this view:

The debate over the future of slavery divided Britons. Wilberforce personified one type of British patriotism—arguing for an end to slave-trading on the basis that it was a blot on the reputation of a proud and Christian nation. Slaveholders offered their own patriotic arguments—maintaining that the trade was so instrumental to the imperial economy that Britain could ill-afford to stop it. Nelson had befriended several slaveholding colonists during his time in the Caribbean. Privately, he came to sympathise with their political outlook. It is clear that, by the time of his death at Trafalgar, he despised Wilberforce and stood in staunch opposition to the British abolitionist campaign.[43]

Over the course of his life, Nelson came into contact numerous times with aspects of slavery and the people who were involved in that institution. These included both his relationships with Caribbean plantation owners and his marriage to Fanny, a slaveowner who was born into a family which belonged to the Antiguan plantocracy. One of his friends in the West Indies was Simon Taylor, one of the richest plantation owners in Jamaica who owned hundreds of slaves. In 1805, Taylor wrote to Nelson, requesting that he publicly intervene in favour of the pro-slavery side in Britain's debate over abolition. Nelson wrote a letter back to Taylor, writing that "while [he had] ... a tongue", he would "launch [his] voice against the damnable and cursed (sic)[b] doctrine of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies".[44] In the same letter, Nelson also wrote that he had always "[endeavoured] to serve the Public weal, of which the West India Colonies form so prominent and interesting a part. I have ever been, and shall die, a firm friend to our present Colonial system. I was bred, as you know, in the good old school, and taught to appreciate the value of our West India possessions."[45]

This letter was published in 1807, by the anti-abolitionist faction; some eighteen months after Nelson's death, and out of context, in an apparent attempt to bolster their cause prior to the parliamentary vote on the Abolition Bill. The wording of the letter as published in 1807—not in Nelson's handwriting, and with a poor facsimile of his signature—appears out of character for Nelson whose many other surviving letters never expressed racist or pro-slavery sentiments. Comparison with the "pressed copy" of the original letter—now part of the Bridport papers held in the British Library—shows that the published copy had 25 alterations,[46] distorting it to give it a more anti-Abolitionist slant. Many of Nelson's actions indicate his position on the matter of slavery, most notably:

Nelson's Column – Death of Nelson at Trafalgar panel, with George Ryan standing on the left-hand edge, holding a rifle

Any West Indian slave escaping to a navy ship, including Nelson's, were signed on, paid, and treated the same as other crew members. At the end of their service they were discharged as free men. In fact, the bronze relief at the base of Nelson's column clearly shows the black George Ryan, aged 23, with musket shooting the French alongside the dying Admiral.[47]

In 1799, Nelson intervened to secure the release of 24 slaves being held in Portuguese galleys off Palermo.[48][49]

In 1802, when it was proposed that West Indian plantation slaves should be replaced by free, paid industrious Chinese workers—Nelson supported the idea.[50]

In 1805, Nelson rescued the black Haitian General Joseph Chretien, and his servant, from the French. They asked if they could serve with Nelson, and Nelson recommended to the Admiralty that they be paid until they could be discharged and granted passage to Jamaica. The General's mission was to end slavery, a fact of which Nelson was well aware. The general and his servant were well treated and paid.[51]

The Nelson family used to have a free black servant called Price. Nelson said of him he was "as good a man as ever lived" and he suggested to Emma that she invite the elderly Price to live with them. In the event, Price declined.[52]

Command, 1781–1796[edit]

Captain of Albemarle[edit]

Nelson received orders on 23 October 1781, to take the newly refitted Albemarle to sea. He was instructed to collect an inbound convoy of the Russia Company at Elsinore, and escort them back to Britain. For this operation, the Admiralty placed the frigates HMS Argo and HMS Enterprise under his command.[53] Nelson successfully organised the convoy and escorted it into British waters. He then left the convoy to return to port, but severe storms hampered him.[54] Gales almost wrecked Albemarle, as she was a poorly designed ship and an earlier accident had left her damaged, but Nelson eventually brought her into Portsmouth, in February 1782.[55] There, the Admiralty ordered him to fit Albemarle for sea and join the escort for a convoy collecting at Cork, Ireland, to sail for Quebec, Canada.[56] Nelson arrived off Newfoundland with the convoy in late May, then detached on a cruise to hunt American privateers. Nelson was generally unsuccessful; he succeeded only in retaking several captured British merchant ships, and capturing a number of small fishing boats and assorted craft.[57]

In August 1782, Nelson had a narrow escape from a far superior French force under Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil, only evading them after a prolonged chase.[58] Nelson arrived at Quebec on 18 September.[59] He sailed again as part of the escort for a convoy to New York. He arrived in mid-November and reported to Admiral Samuel Hood, commander of the New York station.[60] At Nelson's request, Hood transferred him to his fleet and Albemarle sailed in company with Hood, bound for the West Indies.[61] On their arrival, the British fleet took up position off Jamaica to await the arrival of de Vaudreuil's force. Nelson and the Albemarle were ordered to scout the numerous passages for signs of the enemy, but it became clear by early 1783 that the French had eluded Hood.[62]

During his scouting operations, Nelson had developed a plan to attack the French garrison of the Turks Islands. Commanding a small flotilla of frigates, and smaller vessels, he landed a force of 167 seamen and marines early on the morning of 8 March, under a supporting bombardment.[63] The French were found to be heavily entrenched and, after several hours, Nelson called off the assault. Several of the officers involved criticised Nelson, but Hood does not appear to have reprimanded him.[64] Nelson spent the rest of the war cruising in the West Indies, where he captured a number of French and Spanish prizes.[65] After news of the peace reached Hood, Nelson returned to Britain in late June 1783.[66]

Island of Nevis, marriage and peace[edit]

Nelson's wife, Lady Nelson, formerly Frances "Fanny" Nisbet of the island of Nevis, West Indies. A painting of the British school, circa 1800, formerly attributed to Richard Cosway, from an earlier copy.

Nelson visited France in late 1783 and stayed with acquaintances at Saint-Omer; briefly attempting to learn French during his stay. He returned to England in January 1784, and attended court as part of Lord Hood's entourage.[67] Influenced by the factional politics of the time, he contemplated standing for Parliament as a supporter of William Pitt, but was unable to find a seat.[68]

In 1784, Nelson received command of the frigate HMS Boreas, with the assignment to enforce the Navigation Acts in the vicinity of Antigua.[69] Nelson hated Antigua and the only consolation was (Mrs) Mary Moutray who he greatly admired.[70] The Acts were unpopular with both the Americans and the colonies.[71] Nelson served on the station under Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, and often came into conflict with his superior officer over their differing interpretation of the Acts.[72] The captains of the American vessels Nelson had seized sued him for illegal seizure. Because the merchants of the nearby island of Nevis supported the American claim, Nelson was in peril of imprisonment; he remained sequestered on Boreas for eight months, until the courts ruled in his favour.[73]

In the interim, Nelson met Frances "Fanny" Nisbet, a young widow from a Nevis plantation family.[74] Nelson developed an affection for her. In response, her uncle, John Herbert, offered him a massive dowry. Both Herbert and Nisbet concealed the fact that their famed riches were a fiction, and Fanny did not disclose the fact that she was infertile due to a womb infection. Once they were engaged, Herbert offered Nelson nowhere near the dowry he had promised.[citation needed]

During the Georgian era, breaking a marital engagement was seen as quite dishonourable,[75] and so Nelson and Nisbet were married at Montpelier Estate, on the island of Nevis, on 11 March 1787, shortly before the end of his tour of duty in the Caribbean.[76] The marriage was registered at Fig Tree Church in St John's Parish on Nevis. Nelson returned to England in July, with Fanny following later.[77]

Nelson remained with Boreas until she was paid off in November 1787.[78] He and Fanny then divided their time between Bath and London, occasionally visiting Nelson's relations in Norfolk. In 1788, they settled at Nelson's childhood home at Burnham Thorpe.[79] Now in reserve and on half-pay, he attempted to persuade the Admiralty—and other senior figures he was acquainted with, such as Hood—to provide him with a command. He was unsuccessful, as there were too few ships in the peacetime navy, and Hood did not intercede on his behalf.[80]

Nelson spent his time trying to find employment for former crew members, attending to family affairs, and cajoling contacts in the navy for a posting. In 1792, the French revolutionary government annexed the Austrian Netherlands (modern Belgium), which were traditionally preserved as a buffer state. The Admiralty recalled Nelson to service and gave him command of the 64-gun HMS Agamemnon, in January 1793. On 1 February, France declared war.[81]

Mediterranean service[edit]

See also: Invasion of Corsica (1794)

Early on the morning of 22 October 1793, Agamemnon sighted five sails. Nelson closed with them and discovered that they were a French squadron. He promptly gave chase, firing on the 40-gun Melpomene.[90] During the action of 22 October 1793, he inflicted considerable damage, but the remaining French ships turned to join the battle. Realising he was outnumbered, Nelson withdrew and continued to Cagliari, arriving on 24 October.[90] After making repairs, Nelson and Agamemnon sailed for Tunis on 26 October with a squadron under Commodore Robert Linzee.[91]

On his arrival, Nelson was given command of a small squadron consisting of Agamemnon, three frigates, and a sloop, and ordered to blockade the French garrison on Corsica.[91] The fall of Toulon at the end of December 1793 severely damaged British fortunes in the Mediterranean. Hood had failed to make adequate provisions for a withdrawal and 18 French ships-of-the-line fell into republican hands.[92] Nelson's mission to Corsica took on an added significance, as it could provide the British with a naval base close to the French coast.[92] Hood therefore reinforced Nelson with extra ships during January 1794.[93]

A British assault force landed on the island on 7 February, after which, Nelson moved to intensify the blockade off Bastia. For the rest of the month, he carried out raids along the coast and intercepted enemy shipping. By late February, San Fiorenzo had fallen and British troops, under Lieutenant-General David Dundas, entered the outskirts of Bastia.[94] However, Dundas merely assessed the enemy positions and then withdrew, arguing that the French were too well entrenched to risk an assault. Nelson convinced Hood otherwise, but a protracted debate between the army and naval commanders meant that Nelson did not receive permission to proceed until late March. Nelson began to land guns from his ships and emplace them in the hills surrounding the town. On 11 April, the British squadron entered the harbour and opened fire, while Nelson took command of the land forces and commenced bombardment.[95] After 45 days, the town surrendered.[96] Nelson then prepared for an assault on Calvi, working in company with Lieutenant-General Charles Stuart.[97]

British forces landed at Calvi on 19 June, and immediately began moving guns ashore to occupy the heights surrounding the town. While Nelson directed a continuous bombardment of the enemy positions, Stuart's men began to advance. On the morning of 12 July, Nelson was at one of the forward batteries when a shot struck one of the nearby sandbags protecting the position, spraying stones and sand. Nelson was struck by debris in his right eye and forced to retire from the position. However, his wound was soon bandaged and he returned to action.[98] By 18 July, most of the enemy positions had been disabled and that night Stuart, supported by Nelson, stormed the main defensive position and captured it. Repositioning their guns, the British brought Calvi under constant bombardment, and the town surrendered on 10 August.[99] Nelson did regain partial sight in his damaged eye after the siege, but by his own account could only "...distinguish light from dark but no object."

Genoa and the fight of the Ça Ira[edit]

Main article: Battle of Genoa (1795)

The fight of the Ça Ira

After the occupation of Corsica, Hood ordered Nelson to open diplomatic relations with the city-state of Genoa—a strategically important potential ally.[100] Soon afterwards, Hood returned to England and was succeeded by Admiral William Hotham as commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean. Nelson put into Leghorn and, while Agamemnon underwent repairs, met with other naval officers at the port and entertained a brief affair with a local woman, Adelaide Correglia.[101] Hotham arrived with the rest of the fleet in December, whereupon Nelson and Agamemnon sailed on a number of cruises with them in late 1794 and early 1795.[102]

On 8 March, news reached Hotham that the French fleet was at sea and heading for Corsica. He immediately set out to intercept them, and Nelson eagerly anticipated his first fleet action. The French were reluctant to engage, and the two fleets shadowed each other on 12 March. The following day, two of the French ships collided, allowing Nelson to engage the much larger, 84-gun Ça Ira. This engagement went on for two and a half hours, until the arrival of two French ships forced Nelson to veer away, having inflicted heavy casualties and considerable damage.[103]

The fleets continued to shadow each other before making contact again on 14 March in the Battle of Genoa. Nelson joined the other British ships in attacking the battered Ça Ira, now under tow from Censeur. Heavily damaged, the two French ships were forced to surrender, and Nelson took possession of Censeur. Defeated at sea, the French abandoned their plan to invade Corsica and returned to port.[104]

Skirmishes and the retreat from Italy[edit]

Nelson and the fleet remained in the Mediterranean throughout the summer of 1795. On 4 July, Agamemnon sailed from San Fiorenzo, with a small force of frigates and sloops, bound for Genoa. On 6 July, Nelson ran into the French fleet and found himself pursued by several, much larger ships-of-the-line. He retreated to San Fiorenzo, arriving just ahead of the pursuing French, who broke off as Nelson's signal guns alerted the British fleet in the harbour.[105] Hotham pursued the French to the Hyères Islands, but failed to bring them to a decisive action. A number of small engagements were fought, but to Nelson's dismay, he saw little action.[105]

Nelson returned to operate out of Genoa, intercepting and inspecting merchantmen and cutting-out suspicious vessels, in both enemy and neutral harbours.[106] Nelson formulated ambitious plans for amphibious landings and naval assaults to frustrate the progress of the French Army of Italy, which was now advancing on Genoa, but could excite little interest in Hotham.[107] In November, Hotham was replaced by Sir Hyde Parker, but the situation in Italy was rapidly deteriorating: the French were raiding around Genoa and strong Jacobin sentiment was rife within the city itself.[108]

A large French assault at the end of November, broke the allied lines, forcing a general retreat towards Genoa. Nelson's forces were able to cover the withdrawing army and prevent them from being surrounded, but he had too few ships and men to materially alter the strategic situation. The British were forced to withdraw from the Italian ports. Nelson returned to Corsica on 30 November, angry and depressed with the British failure, and questioning his future in the navy.[109]

Jervis and the evacuation of the Mediterranean[edit]

In January 1796, the position of commander-in-chief of the fleet in the Mediterranean passed to Sir John Jervis, who appointed Nelson to exercise independent command over the ships blockading the French coast as a commodore.[110] Nelson spent the first half of the year conducting operations to frustrate French advances and bolster Britain's Italian allies. Despite some minor successes in intercepting small French warships—such as in the action of 31 May 1796, when Nelson's squadron captured a convoy of seven small vessels—he began to feel the British presence on the Italian peninsula was rapidly becoming useless.[111] In June, the Agamemnon was sent back to Britain for repairs, and Nelson was appointed to the 74-gun HMS Captain.[111]

In the same month, the French thrust towards Leghorn and were certain to capture the city. Nelson hurried there to oversee the evacuation of British nationals and transport them to Corsica. After which, Jervis ordered him to blockade the newly captured French port.[112] In July, he oversaw the occupation of Elba, but by September, the Genoese had broken their neutrality to declare in favour of the French.[113] By October, the Genoese position and continued French advances, led the British to decide that the Mediterranean fleet could no longer be supplied. They ordered it to be evacuated to Gibraltar. Nelson helped oversee the withdrawal from Corsica and, by December 1796, was aboard the frigate HMS Minerve, covering the evacuation of the garrison at Elba. He then sailed for Gibraltar.[114]

During the passage, Nelson captured the Spanish frigate Santa Sabina and placed Lieutenants Jonathan Culverhouse and Thomas Hardy in charge of the captured vessel; taking the frigate's Spanish captain on board Minerve. Santa Sabina was part of a larger Spanish force and, the following morning, two Spanish ships-of-the-line, and a frigate, were sighted closing fast. Unable to outrun them, Nelson was initially determined to fight, but Culverhouse and Hardy raised the British colours and sailed northeast, drawing the Spanish ships after them until being captured, giving Nelson the opportunity to escape.[115] Nelson went on to rendezvous with the British fleet at Elba, where he spent Christmas.[116] He sailed for Gibraltar in late January, and—after learning that the Spanish fleet had sailed from Cartagena—stopped just long enough to collect Hardy, Culverhouse, and the rest of the prize crew captured with Santa Sabina, before pressing on through the straits to join Sir John Jervis off Cadiz.[117]

Admiral, 1797–1801[edit]

Battle of Cape St Vincent[edit]

Main article: Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797)

Nelson receives the surrender of the San Nicholas, an 1806 portrait by Richard Westall

Nelson joined Sir John Jervis' fleet off Cape St Vincent, and reported the Spanish movements.[118] Jervis decided to engage and the two fleets met on 14 February 1797. Nelson found himself towards the rear of the British line and realised that it would be a long time before he could bring Captain into action.[118] Instead of continuing to follow the line, Nelson disobeyed orders and wore ship, breaking from the line and heading to engage the Spanish van—consisting of the 112-gun San Josef, the 80-gun San Nicolas, and the 130-gun Santísima Trinidad. Captain engaged all three, assisted by HMS Culloden, which had come to Nelson's aid.[119]

After an hour of exchanging broadsides, which left both Captain and Culloden badly damaged, Nelson found himself alongside San Nicolas. He led a boarding party across, crying, "Westminster Abbey or glorious victory!" and forced her to surrender.[119] San Josef attempted to come to the San Nicolas' aid, but became entangled with her compatriot and was left immobile. Nelson led his party from the deck of San Nicolas onto San Josef and captured her as well.[118] As night fell, the Spanish fleet broke off and sailed for Cadiz. Four ships had surrendered to the British and two of them were Nelson's.[120]

Nelson was victorious, but had disobeyed direct orders. Jervis liked Nelson and so did not officially reprimand him,[120] but did not mention Nelson's actions in his official report of the battle.[121] He did write a private letter to First Lord of the Admiralty, George Spencer, in which he said that Nelson "contributed very much to the fortune of the day".[120] Nelson also wrote several letters about his victory, reporting that his action was being referred to amongst the fleet as "Nelson's Patent Bridge for boarding first rates".[119]

Nelson's account was later challenged by Rear Admiral William Parker, who had been aboard HMS Prince George. Parker claimed that Nelson had been supported by several more ships than he acknowledged, and that San Josef had already struck her colours by the time Nelson boarded her.[122] Nelson's account of his role prevailed, and the victory was well received in Britain; Jervis was made Earl St Vincent and Nelson, on 17 May,[123] was made a Knight of the Bath.[124][125] On 20 February, in a standard promotion according to his seniority and unrelated to the battle, Nelson was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Blue.[126]

Action off Cadiz[edit]

Main article: Blockade of Cádiz (1797)

Nelson was given HMS Theseus as his flagship, and on 27 May 1797, was ordered to lie off Cadiz; monitoring the Spanish fleet and awaiting the arrival of Spanish treasure ships from the American colonies.[127] He carried out a bombardment, and personally led an amphibious assault, on 3 July. During the action, Nelson's barge collided with that of the Spanish commander, and a hand-to-hand struggle ensued between the two crews. Twice, Nelson was nearly cut down and—both times—his life was saved by a seaman named John Sykes, who took the blows himself and was badly wounded. The British raiding force captured the Spanish boat and towed her back to Theseus.[127][128] During this period, Nelson developed a scheme to capture Santa Cruz de Tenerife, aiming to seize a large quantity of specie from the treasure ship Principe de Asturias, which was reported to have recently arrived.[129]

Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife[edit]

Main article: Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797)

Nelson wounded during the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife; 1806 painting by Richard Westall

The battle plan called for a combination of naval bombardments and an amphibious landing. The initial attempt was called off after adverse currents hampered the assault and the element of surprise was lost.[130] Nelson immediately ordered another assault, but this was beaten back. He prepared for a third attempt, to take place during the night. Although he personally led one of the battalions, the operation ended in failure, as the Spanish were better prepared than had been expected and had secured strong defensive positions.[131]

Several of the boats failed to land at the correct positions in the confusion, while those that did were swept by gunfire and grapeshot. Nelson's boat reached its intended landing point, but as he stepped ashore, he was hit in the right arm by a musketball, which fractured his humerus in multiple places.[131] He was rowed back to Theseus to be attended to by its surgeon, Thomas Eshelby.[132] Upon arriving at his ship, he refused to be helped aboard, declaring:

"Let me alone! I have yet legs left and one arm. Tell the surgeon to make haste and get his instruments. I know I must lose my right arm and the sooner it is off, the better".[131][133]

Most of the right arm was amputated and, within half an hour, Nelson had returned to issuing orders to his captains.[134] Years later, he would excuse himself to Commodore John Thomas Duckworth for not writing longer letters due to not being naturally left-handed.[135] Later on, he developed the sensation of phantom limb in the area of his amputation and declared that he had "found the direct evidence of the existence of soul".[136]

Meanwhile, a force under Sir Thomas Troubridge had fought their way to the main square but could go no further. Unable to return to the fleet because their boats had been sunk, Troubridge was forced to enter into negotiations with the Spanish commander, and the British were allowed to withdraw.[137] The expedition had failed to achieve any of its objectives and had left a quarter of the landing force dead or wounded.[137][138]

The squadron remained off Tenerife for a further three days and, by 16 August, had rejoined Lord John Jervis' fleet off Cadiz. Despondently, Nelson wrote to Jervis:

"A left-handed Admiral will never again be considered as useful, therefore the sooner I get to a very humble cottage the better, and make room for a better man to serve the state".[139]

He returned to England, aboard HMS Seahorse, arriving at Spithead on 1 September. He was met with a hero's welcome; the British public had lionised Nelson after Cape St Vincent, and his wound earned him sympathy.[140] They refused to attribute the defeat at Tenerife to him, preferring instead to blame poor planning on the part of St Vincent, the Secretary at War, William Windham, or even Prime Minister William Pitt.[140]

Return to England[edit]

Nelson returned to Bath with Fanny, before moving to London in October 1797, to seek expert medical attention concerning his amputation wound. While in London, news reached him that Admiral Duncan had defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown.[141] Nelson exclaimed that he would have given his other arm to have been present.[141] He spent the last months of 1797 recuperating in London, during which time, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London and a pension of £1,000 (equivalent to £110,200 in 2021) a year. He used this money to buy Round Wood Farm, near Ipswich, and intended to retire there with Fanny.[142] Despite his plans, Nelson was never to live there.[142]

Although surgeons had been unable to remove the central ligature from his amputation site, which had caused considerable inflammation and infection, it came out of its own accord in early December, and Nelson rapidly began to recover. Eager to return to sea, he began agitating for a command and was promised the 80-gun HMS Foudroyant. As she was not yet ready for sea, Nelson was instead given command of the 74-gun HMS Vanguard, to which he appointed Edward Berry as his flag captain.[143]

French activities in the Mediterranean theatre were raising concern among the Admiralty as Napoleon was gathering forces in Southern France, but the destination of his army was unknown. Nelson, and the Vanguard, were to be dispatched to Cadiz to reinforce the fleet. On 28 March 1798, Nelson hoisted his flag and sailed to join Earl St Vincent. St Vincent sent him on to Toulon with a small force to reconnoitre French activities.[144]

The Mediterranean[edit]

Hunting the French[edit]

Main article: Mediterranean campaign of 1798

Nelson passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, and took up position off Toulon, by 17 May, but his squadron was dispersed and blown southwards by a strong gale which struck the area, on 20 May.[145] While the British were battling the storm, Napoleon had sailed with his invasion fleet under the command of Vice Admiral François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers. Nelson, having been reinforced with a number of ships from St Vincent, went in pursuit.[146]

Nelson began searching the Italian coast for Napoleon's fleet, but was hampered by a lack of frigates that could operate as fast scouts. Napoleon had already arrived at Malta and, after a show of force, secured the island's surrender.[147] Nelson followed him there, but by the time he arrived, the French had already left. After a conference with his captains, he decided Napoleon's most likely destination now was Egypt and headed for Alexandria. However, upon Nelson's arrival, on 28 June, he found no sign of the French. Dismayed, he withdrew and began searching to the east of the port. During this time, on 1 July, Napoleon's fleet arrived in Alexandria and landed their forces unopposed.[148] Brueys anchored his fleet in Aboukir Bay, ready to support Napoleon, if required.[149]

Nelson, meanwhile, had crossed the Mediterranean again, in a fruitless attempt to locate the French, and returned to Naples to re-provision.[150] When he again set sail, his intentions were to search the seas off Cyprus, but he decided to pass Alexandria again for a final check. Along the way, his force found and captured a French merchant ship, which provided the first news of the French fleet: they had passed south-east of Crete a month prior—heading to Alexandria.[151] Nelson hurried to the port, but again found it empty of the French. Searching along the coast, he finally discovered the French fleet in Aboukir Bay, on 1 August 1798.[152]

The Battle of the Nile[edit]

Main article: Battle of the Nile

Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798 at 10 pm, painting by Thomas Luny, 1834

Nelson immediately prepared for battle, repeating a sentiment he had expressed at the battle of Cape St Vincent: "Before this time tomorrow, I shall have gained a peerage or Westminster Abbey."[153] It was late by the time the British arrived, and the French—having anchored in a strong position and possessing a combined firepower greater than that of Nelson's fleet—did not expect them to attack.[154] Nelson, however, immediately ordered his ships to advance. The French line was anchored close to a line of shoals, in the belief that this would secure their port side from attack; Brueys had assumed the British would follow convention and attack his centre from the starboard side. However, Captain Thomas Foley, aboard HMS Goliath, discovered a gap between the shoals and the French ships, and took Goliath into this channel. The unprepared French found themselves attacked on both sides; the British fleet splitting, with some following Foley and others passing down the starboard side of the French line.[155]

The British fleet was soon heavily engaged, passing down the French line and engaging their ships one by one. Nelson, on Vanguard, personally engaged Spartiate, while also coming under fire from Aquilon. At about eight o'clock, he was with Edward Berry on the quarter-deck, when a piece of French shot struck him in the forehead. He fell to the deck, with a flap of torn skin obscuring his good eye. Blinded and half-stunned, he felt sure he would die and cried out, "I am killed. Remember me to my wife." He was taken below to be seen by the surgeon.[156] After examining Nelson, the surgeon pronounced the wound non-threatening and applied a temporary bandage.[157]

The French van, pounded by British fire from both sides, had begun to surrender, and the victorious British ships continued to move down the line, bringing Brueys' 118-gun flagship Orient under constant, heavy fire. Orient caught fire under this bombardment, and later exploded. Nelson briefly came on deck to direct the battle, but returned to the surgeon after watching the destruction of Orient.[158]

The Battle of the Nile was a major blow to Napoleon's ambitions in the east. The fleet had been destroyed; Orient, another ship and two frigates had been burnt, while seven 74-gun ships and two 80-gun ships had been captured. Only two ships-of-the-line and two frigates escaped.[159] The forces Napoleon had brought to Egypt were stranded.[155] Napoleon attacked north along the Mediterranean coast, but Turkish defenders supported by Captain Sir Sidney Smith defeated his army at the Siege of Acre. Napoleon then left his army and sailed back to France, evading detection by British ships.

Given its strategic importance, historians such as Ernle Bradford, regard Nelson's achievement at the Nile as the most significant of his career, even greater than that at Trafalgar, seven years later.[160]

Rewards[edit]

Lady Hamilton as either a bacchante or Ariadne, by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, c. 1790; a painting owned by Nelson, which hung above his bed until his death

Nelson wrote dispatches to the Admiralty and oversaw temporary repairs to the Vanguard before sailing to Naples, where he was met with enthusiastic celebrations.[161] King Ferdinand IV of Naples, in company with the Hamiltons, greeted him in person when he arrived at port, and Sir William Hamilton invited Nelson to stay at his home.[162] Celebrations were held in honour of Nelson's birthday that September 1798, and he attended a banquet at the Hamiltons' house, where other officers had begun to notice his attentions to Emma, Lady Hamilton.

Lord Jervis himself had begun to grow concerned about reports of Nelson's behaviour, but in early October, word of Nelson's victory had reached London and overshadowed the matter. The First Lord of the Admiralty, George Spencer, fainted upon hearing the news.[163] Scenes of celebration erupted across the country; balls and victory feasts were held, and church bells were rung. The City of London awarded Nelson, and his captains, swords, while the King ordered they be presented with special medals. Emperor Paul I of Russia sent Nelson a gift, and Sultan Selim III of the Ottoman Empire awarded Nelson the Order of the Turkish Crescent, as well as the diamond chelengk from his own turban,[164] for Nelson's role in restoring Ottoman rule to Egypt.

Samuel Hood, after a conversation with the Prime Minister, told Nelson's wife, Fanny, that her husband would likely be given a viscountcy, similarly to Jervis' earldom after Cape St Vincent, and Adam Duncan's viscountcy after Camperdown.[165] Lord Spencer, however, demurred, arguing that as Nelson had only been detached in command of a squadron—rather than being the commander in chief of the fleet—such an award would create an unwelcome precedent. Instead, Nelson received the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile.[166][167]

Neapolitan campaign[edit]

Castello di Maniace, caput of the Dukedom of Bronte, situated 5 miles north of the town of Bronte. Viewed from north across the dried up river bed of the River Saraceno, with Mount Etna in the background (the main crater of which is 15 km to the south-east). Painted in 1876 by Sir John Walrond, 1st Baronet (1818–1889), son-in-law of the 3rd Duchess of Bronte. Royal Collection

Nelson was dismayed by Lord Spencer's decision, and declared that he would rather have received no title than that of a mere barony.[167] He was, however, cheered by the attention showered on him by the citizens of Naples, the prestige accorded him by the kingdom's elite, and the comforts he received at the Hamiltons' residence. He made frequent visits to their residence to attend functions in his honour, or tour nearby attractions with Emma, who was almost constantly at his side and with whom, by now, he had fallen deeply in love.[168]

Orders arrived from the Admiralty to blockade the French forces in Alexandria and Malta, a task Nelson delegated to his captains, Samuel Hood and Alexander Ball. Despite enjoying his lifestyle in Naples—even while judging it to be a "country of fiddlers and poets, whores and scoundrels", which he found less than desirable[164]—Nelson began to think of returning to England.[168] However, King Ferdinand IV, had just faced an extended period of pressure from his wife, Maria Carolina of Austria, who was advocating for an aggressive foreign policy towards France; a country which, five years earlier, had beheaded her sister, and its queen, Marie Antoinette.[164] Sir William Hamilton was joined in agreement with Queen Maria Carolina, and the King finally agreed to declare war on France.[169]

The Neapolitan Army, led by the Austrian General Mack, and supported by Nelson's fleet, retook Rome from the French in late November 1798. The French regrouped outside Rome and after being reinforced, routed the Neapolitans. In disarray, the Neapolitan army fled back to Naples, with the pursuing French close behind.[169] Nelson hastily organised the evacuation of the Royal Family, several nobles, and British nationals—including the Hamiltons. The evacuation got underway on 23 December and sailed through heavy gales before reaching the safety of Palermo, on 26 December.[170]

With the departure of the Royal Family, Naples descended into anarchy, and news reached Palermo, in January, that the French had entered the city under General Championnet and proclaimed the Parthenopaean Republic.[171] Nelson was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Red on 14 February 1799,[172] and was occupied for several months in blockading Naples, while a popular counter-revolutionary force, under Cardinal Ruffo, known as the Sanfedisti, marched to retake the city. In late June, Ruffo's army entered Naples, forcing the French and their supporters to withdraw to the city's fortifications, as rioting and looting broke out amongst the ill-disciplined Neapolitan troops.[173]

Dismayed by the bloodshed, Ruffo agreed to a capitulation with the Jacobin forces, which allowed them safe conduct to France. Nelson arrived off Naples on 24 June, to find the treaty put into effect. His subsequent role is still controversial.[174] Nelson, aboard Foudroyant, was outraged, and backed by King Ferdinand IV, he insisted that the rebels must surrender unconditionally.[175] They refused. Nelson appears to have relented and the Jacobin forces marched out to the awaiting transports. Nelson then had the transports seized.[174]

He took those who had surrendered under the treaty under armed guard, as well as the former Admiral Francesco Caracciolo, who had commanded the Neapolitan navy, under King Ferdinand IV, but had changed sides during the brief Jacobin rule.[176] Nelson ordered his trial by court-martial and refused Caracciolo's request that it be held by British officers. Caracciolo was also not allowed to summon witnesses in his defence and was tried by royalist Neapolitan officers. He was sentenced to death. Caracciolo requested to be shot rather than hanged, but Nelson, following the wishes of Queen Maria Carolina, a close friend of Lady Hamilton, also denied this request, and even ignored the court's request to allow 24 hours for Caracciolo to prepare himself. Caracciolo was hanged aboard the Neapolitan frigate Minerva at 5 o'clock the same afternoon.[177]

Nelson kept the bulk of the Jacobins on the transports and began to hand hundreds over for trial and execution, refusing to intervene, despite pleas for clemency from both the Hamiltons and Queen Maria Carolina.[178] When the transports were finally allowed to carry the Jacobins to France, less than one-third were still alive.[179] On 13 August 1799, in reward for his support of the monarchy,[180] King Ferdinand IV gave Nelson the newly created title Duke of Bronte, in the peerage of the Kingdom of Sicily, as his perpetual property, as well as the estate of the former Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria di Maniace—which he later transformed into the Castello di Nelson—situated between the comunes of Bronte and Maniace, later known as the Duchy of Nelson.[181]

In 1799, Nelson opposed the mistreatment of slaves held in Portuguese galleys off Palermo and intervened to secure their release. Nelson petitioned the Portuguese commander Marquiz de Niza:

"As a friend, as an English admiral—as a favour to me, as a favour to my country—that you will give me the Slaves".

The marquis acquiesced to the unusual request, allowing twenty-four slaves to be transferred to HMS Bonne Citoyenne; their blessings to Nelson ringing out across the harbour, as their names were added to the sloop's already crowded muster book.[48][49]

The Battle of the Malta convoy

Siege of Malta[edit]

Further information: Siege of Malta (1798–1800)

Nelson returned to Palermo in August, and in September, became the senior officer in the Mediterranean, after Lord John Jervis' successor, George Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith, left to chase the French and Spanish fleets into the Atlantic.[182] Nelson spent most of 1799 at the Neapolitan court, but put to sea again in February 1800, after Lord Keith's return. Keith ordered Nelson to assist in the siege of Malta—of which the Royal Navy was conducting a tight blockade. On 18 February, Généreux—a survivor of the Battle of the Nile—was sighted and Nelson gave chase, capturing her after a short battle, and winning Keith's approval.[183] Nelson and the Hamiltons sailed aboard the Foudroyant from Naples, on a brief cruise around Malta, in April 1800 and anchored at Marsa Sirocco. Here Nelson and Emma lived together openly, and were hosted by Thomas Troubridge and Thomas Graham.[184] It was during this time that Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton's illegitimate daughter, Horatia Nelson, was likely conceived.[185]

Nelson had a difficult relationship with his superior officer; he was gaining a reputation for insubordination, having initially refused to send ships when Keith requested them, and on occasion, returning to Palermo without orders, pleading poor health.[186] Keith's reports, and rumours of Nelson's close relationship with Emma Hamilton, were now circulating around London, and Lord Spencer wrote a pointed letter suggesting that he return home: You will be more likely to recover your health and strength in England than in any inactive situation at a foreign Court, however pleasing the respect and gratitude shown to you for your services may be.[187]

Return to England[edit]

Emma Hamilton in an 1800 portrait owned by Nelson

An antique photograph of a portrait of Horatia Ward (née Nelson) from the Style/Ward Family collection; Horatia was the daughter of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton.

The recall of Sir William Hamilton to Britain was a further incentive for Nelson to return. In June Nelson left Malta and conveyed Queen Maria Carolina, and her suite, to Leghorn. Upon his arrival, Nelson shifted his flag to HMS Alexander, but again disobeyed Lord Keith's orders by refusing to join the main fleet. Keith travelled to Leghorn to demand, in person, an explanation, and refused to be moved by the Queen's pleas to allow her to be conveyed in a British ship.[188] In the face of Keith's demands, Nelson reluctantly struck his flag and bowed to Lady Hamilton's request to return to England over land.[189]

Nelson, the Hamiltons, and several other British travellers, left Leghorn for Florence, on 13 July. They made stops at Trieste and Vienna, spending three weeks in the latter, where they were entertained by the local nobility and heard the Missa in Angustiis by Haydn, which now bears Nelson's name. Haydn would meet them that August when they visited Eisenstaedt.[190] By September, they were in Prague, and later called at Dresden, Dessau and Hamburg; from there, they caught a packet ship to Great Yarmouth, arriving on 6 November.[191] Nelson was given a hero's welcome, and after being sworn in as a freeman of the borough, received the amassed crowd's applause. He then made his way to London, arriving on 9 November.[192]

He attended court and was guest of honour at a number of banquets and balls. During this period, Fanny Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton met for the first time; Nelson was reported as being cold and distant to his wife, while his attentions to Lady Hamilton and her obesity became the subject of gossip.[192] With the marriage breaking down, Nelson began to hate even being in the same room as Fanny. Events came to a head around Christmas, when according to Nelson's solicitor, Fanny issued an ultimatum on whether he was to choose her or Lady Hamilton. Nelson replied: I love you sincerely but I cannot forget my obligations to Lady Hamilton or speak of her otherwise than with affection and admiration.[193] The two never lived together again.[193]

The Baltic[edit]

Shortly after his arrival in England, Nelson was appointed to be second-in-command of the Channel Fleet, under Lord John Jervis.[194] He was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the Blue on 1 January 1801,[195] and travelled to Plymouth, where on 22 January, he was granted the freedom of the city. On 29 January 1801, Lady Emma Hamilton gave birth to their daughter, Horatia.[196] Nelson was delighted, but subsequently disappointed, when he was instructed to move his flag from HMS San Josef to HMS St George, in preparation for a planned expedition to the Baltic.[197]

Tired of British ships imposing a blockade against French trade and stopping and searching their merchantmen, the Russian, Prussian, Danish and Swedish governments had formed an alliance to break the blockade. Nelson joined Admiral Sir Hyde Parker's fleet at Yarmouth, from where they sailed for the Danish coast in March. On their arrival, Parker was inclined to blockade Denmark and control the entrance to the Baltic, but Nelson urged a pre-emptive attack on the Danish fleet in the harbour of Copenhagen.[198] He convinced Parker to allow him to make an assault and was given significant reinforcements. Parker himself would wait in the Kattegat, covering Nelson's fleet in case of the arrival of the Swedish or Russian fleets.[199]

Battle of Copenhagen[edit]

Main article: Battle of Copenhagen (1801)

The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801, by Nicholas Pocock (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London). Nelson's fleet exchanges fire with the Danes, with the city of Copenhagen in the background

This glass was one of a set commissioned by Lord Nelson to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Copenhagen

On the morning of 2 April 1801, Nelson began to advance into Copenhagen harbour. The battle began badly for the British, with HMS Agamemnon, Bellona and Russell running aground, and the rest of the fleet encountering heavier fire from the Danish shore batteries than had been anticipated. Sir Hyde Parker sent the signal for Nelson to withdraw, reasoning:I will make the signal for recall for Nelson's sake. If he is in a condition to continue the action he will disregard it; if he is not, it will be an excuse for his retreat and no blame can be attached to him.[200] Nelson, directing action aboard HMS Elephant, was informed of the signal by the signal lieutenant, Frederick Langford, but angrily responded: "I told you to look out on the Danish commodore and let me know when he surrendered. Keep your eyes fixed on him."[201] He then turned to his flag captain, Thomas Foley, and said "You know, Foley, I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes." He raised the telescope to his blind eye, and said "I really do not see the signal."[c][201][203]

The battle lasted three hours, leaving both Danish and British fleets heavily damaged. At length, Nelson dispatched a letter to the Danish commander, Crown Prince Frederick, calling for a truce, which the Prince accepted.[204] Parker approved of Nelson's actions in retrospect, and Nelson was given the honour of going into Copenhagen the next day to open formal negotiations.[205][206] At a banquet that evening, he told Prince Frederick that the battle had been the most severe he had ever participated in.[207] The outcome of the battle—and several weeks of ensuing negotiations—was a fourteen-week armistice, with Nelson becoming commander-in-chief in the Baltic Sea, upon Parker's recall in May.[208]

As a reward for the victory, he was created Viscount Nelson of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk, on 19 May 1801.[209] In addition, on 4 August 1801, he was created Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough in the County of Norfolk, with a special remainder to his father and sisters.[210][211] Nelson sailed to the Russian naval base at Reval in May, and there learnt that the pact of armed neutrality was to be disbanded. Satisfied with the outcome of the expedition, he returned to England, arriving on 1 July.[212]

Leave in England, 1801–1803[edit]

In France, Napoleon was amassing forces to invade Great Britain. After a brief spell in London, where he again visited the Hamiltons, Nelson was placed in charge of defending the English Channel to prevent the invasion.[213] He spent the summer of 1801 reconnoitring the French coast, but apart from a failed attack on Boulogne in August, saw little action.[214] On 1 October, the Peace of Amiens was signed between the British and the French,[164] and Nelson—in poor health again—retired once more to Britain, where he stayed with Sir William and Lady Hamilton. On 30 October, Nelson spoke in support of the Addington government in the House of Lords, and afterwards, made regular visits to attend sessions.[215]

Grand tour[edit]

In the summer of 1802, Nelson, and the Hamiltons, embarked on a tour of England and Wales,[164] visiting Oxford (Star Inn), Woodstock, Oxfordshire 4th Duke of Marlborough – Blenheim Palace, Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Ross-on-Wye, then by river to Monmouth, Abergavenny, Brecon, Carmarthen, Milford Haven (New Inn), Tenby, Swansea, Carmarthen, Merthyr Tydfil (Star Inn) visited Cyfartha Ironworks to see the place were the 104 guns had been made for his flagship, HMS Victory, Ffos y Gerddinen coaching inn, now both village and inn renamed Nelson, Caerphilly, Monmouth (Beaufort Arms), Hereford, Ludlow, Worcester (Hop Pole Inn), Birmingham (Styles hotel), Warwick, Althorp (Lord Spencer) and returning to Merton Place Sunday 5 September,[216] passing through numerous other towns and villages along the way. Nelson often found himself received as a hero, (except at Woodstock) and was the centre of celebrations and events held in his honour.[214]

In September, Lady Hamilton purchased Merton Place, a country estate in Merton, Surrey (now within the borders of south-west London) for Nelson, where he lived with the Hamiltons until William's death, on 6 April 1803.[217][164] The following month, war broke out once again, and Nelson prepared to return to sea.[218]

Witness at the treason trial of Edward Despard[edit]

In January 1803, Nelson appeared as a character witness in the treason trial of a former comrade in arms, Colonel Edward Despard. Despard, who had been moving in radical circles in London—a member both of the London Corresponding Society and the United Irishmen—was the alleged ringleader of a conspiracy to assassinate King George III and seize the Tower of London; the so-called Despard Plot. In court, Nelson recollected his service with Despard in the Caribbean, during the American War:

"We went on the Spanish Main together; we slept many nights together in our clothes upon the ground; we have measured the height of the enemies walls together. In all that period of time, no man could have shewn more zealous attachment to his Sovereign and his Country".

Under cross-examination, however, Nelson had to concede to having "lost sight of Despard for the last twenty years".[219][220]

Nelson directed a further plea for clemency to Prime Minister Henry Addington, who was later to tell Nelson that "he and his family had sat up after supper, weeping over the letter".[221] Following Despard's execution in February, Lady Fanny Nelson is reported to have taken the Colonel's Jamaican wife, Catherine Despard, under her "protection".[222]

Return to sea, 1803[edit]

Main article: Trafalgar Campaign

Nelson was appointed commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet and given the first-rate HMS Victory as his flagship. He joined her at Portsmouth, where he received orders to sail to Malta and take command of a squadron there, before joining the blockade of Toulon.[223] Nelson arrived off Toulon in July 1803, and spent the next year and a half enforcing the blockade. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the White while still at sea, on 23 April 1804.[224] In January 1805, the French fleet, under the command of Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, escaped Toulon and eluded the blockading British. Nelson set off in pursuit, but after searching the eastern Mediterranean, learnt the French had been blown back into Toulon.[225] Villeneuve managed to break out a second time in April, and this time, succeeded in passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, and into the Atlantic—bound for the West Indies.[225]

Admiral Sir Robert Calder's action off Cape Finisterre, 23 July 1805, by William Anderson (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)

Nelson gave chase, but after arriving in the Caribbean, spent June in a fruitless search for the fleet. Villeneuve had briefly cruised around the islands, before heading back to Europe, in contravention of Napoleon's orders.[226] The returning French fleet was intercepted by a British fleet, under Sir Robert Calder, and engaged in the Battle of Cape Finisterre, but managed to reach Ferrol with only minor losses.[227] Nelson returned to Gibraltar at the end of July, and travelled from there to England, dismayed at his failure to bring the French to battle and expecting to be censured.[228]

To his surprise, he was given a rapturous reception from crowds who had gathered to view his arrival. Senior British officials congratulated him for sustaining the close pursuit, crediting him with saving the West Indies from a French invasion.[228] Nelson briefly stayed in London, where he was cheered wherever he went, before visiting Merton Place to see Lady Hamilton, arriving in late August. He entertained a number of his friends and relations there over the coming month, and began plans for a grand engagement with the enemy fleet, one that would surprise his foes by forcing a pell-mell battle on them.[229]

Captain Henry Blackwood arrived at Merton early on 2 September, bringing news that the French and Spanish fleets had combined and were currently at anchor in Cádiz. Nelson hurried to London, where he met with cabinet ministers and was given command of the fleet blockading Cádiz. It was while awaiting one of these meetings, on 24 September, with Lord Castlereagh, the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, that Nelson and Major General Arthur Wellesley—the future Duke of Wellington—met briefly in a waiting area. Wellington was waiting to be debriefed on his Indian operations, and Nelson on his chase and future plans.[230] Wellington later recalled, "[Nelson] entered at once into conversation with me, if I can call it conversation, for it was almost all on his side and all about himself and, in reality, a style so vain and so silly as to surprise and almost disgust me".[230] After a few minutes, Nelson left the room, but having then been informed who his companion had been, returned and entered into a more earnest and intelligent discussion with the young Wellesley. This lasted for a quarter of an hour, and encompassed topics such as the war, the state of the colonies, and the geopolitical situation. On this second discussion, Wellesley recalled, "I don't know that I ever had a conversation that interested me more". This was the only meeting between the two men.[231]

Nelson returned briefly to Merton to set his affairs in order, and bid farewell to Emma, before travelling back to London and then on to Portsmouth; arriving there early on the morning of 14 September. He breakfasted at the George Inn with his friends George Rose, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, and George Canning, the Treasurer of the Navy. During the breakfast, word spread of Nelson's presence at the inn and a large crowd of well-wishers gathered. They accompanied Nelson to his barge and cheered him off, which Nelson acknowledged by raising his hat. He was recorded as having turned to his colleague and stated: "I had their huzzas before; I have their hearts now."[232][233][234] Robert Southey reported on the onlookers for Nelson's walk to the dock: "Many were in tears and many knelt down before him and blessed him as he passed."[235]

Victory joined the British fleet off Cádiz, on 27 September, and Nelson took over from Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood.[236] Nelson spent the following weeks preparing and refining his tactics for the anticipated battle, and dining with his captains to ensure they understood his intentions.[237] He had devised a plan of attack that anticipated the allied fleet would form up in a traditional line of battle. Drawing on his own experience from the Nile and Copenhagen, and the examples of Duncan at Camperdown and Rodney at the Saintes, Nelson decided to split his fleet into squadrons rather than forming it into a similar line parallel to the enemy.[238] These squadrons would then cut the enemy's line in a number of places, allowing a pell-mell battle to develop. The British ships could overwhelm and destroy parts of their opponents' formation, before unengaged enemy ships could come to their aid.[238]

Battle of Trafalgar, 1805[edit]

Main article: Battle of Trafalgar

Preparation[edit]

The combined French and Spanish fleet under Villeneuve's command numbered thirty-three ships of the line. Napoleon had intended for Villeneuve to sail into the English Channel and cover a planned invasion of Britain. However, the entry of Austria and Russia into the war forced Napoleon to call off this invasion, and transfer troops to Germany. Villeneuve had been reluctant to risk engagement with the British and this reluctance led Napoleon to send Vice-Admiral François Rosily to Cádiz, in order to take command of the fleet. Rosily was then to sail it into the Mediterranean and land troops at Naples, before making port at Toulon.[236] Villeneuve decided to sail the fleet out before his successor could arrive.[236] On 20 October 1805, the fleet was sighted making its way out of harbour, by patrolling British frigates, and Nelson was informed that they appeared to be heading to the west.[239]

The Battle of Trafalgar by J. M. W. Turner (oil on canvas, 1822–1824) shows the last three letters of the signal, "England expects that every man will do his duty" flying from Victory

At four o'clock in the morning of 21 October, Nelson ordered the Victory to turn towards the approaching enemy fleet, and signalled the rest of his force to battle stations. He then went below and made out his will, before returning to the quarterdeck to carry out an inspection.[240] Despite having twenty-seven ships to Villeneuve's thirty-three, Nelson was confident of success, declaring that he would not be satisfied with taking fewer than twenty prizes.[240] He returned briefly to his cabin to write a final prayer, after which he joined Victory's signal lieutenant, John Pasco. Mr Pasco, I wish to say to the fleet "England confides that every man will do his duty". You must be quick, for I have one more signal to make, which is for close action.[241] Pasco suggested changing confides to expects which, being in the Signal Book, could be signalled by the use of a single code (three flags), whereas confides would have to be spelt out letter by letter. Nelson agreed, and the signal was hoisted.[241]

As the fleets converged, Victory's Captain Thomas Hardy, suggested that Nelson remove the decorations on his coat, so that he would not be so easily identified by enemy sharpshooters. Nelson replied that it was too late "to be shifting a coat", adding that they were "military orders and he did not fear to show them to the enemy".[d][243] Captain Henry Blackwood, of the frigate HMS Euryalus, suggested Nelson come aboard his ship to better observe the battle. Nelson refused, and also turned down Hardy's suggestion to let Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey's HMS Temeraire come ahead of Victory and lead the line into battle.[243]

Battle is joined[edit]

Victory came under fire, initially passing wide, but then with greater accuracy as the distances decreased. A cannonball struck and killed Nelson's secretary, John Scott, nearly cutting him in two. Hardy's clerk then took over, but he too, was almost immediately killed. Victory's wheel was shot away; another cannonball cut down eight marines. Standing next to Nelson on the quarterdeck, Hardy's shoe buckle was suddenly dented by a splinter. Nelson observed, "This is too warm work to last long."[244]

Victory had, by now, reached the enemy line and Hardy asked Nelson which ship to engage first. Nelson told him to take his pick, whereupon Hardy moved Victory across the stern of the 80-gun French flagship, Bucentaure.[244] Victory then came under fire from the 74-gun Redoutable, which was lying off Bucentaure's stern, as well as the 130-gun Santísima Trinidad. As sharpshooters from the enemy ships fired onto Victory's deck from their rigging, Nelson and Hardy continued directing and giving orders.[244]

Wounding and death[edit]

Nelson is shot on the quarterdeck, painted by Denis Dighton, c. 1825

At a quarter-past one in the afternoon,[164] Hardy realised that Nelson was not by his side. He turned to see Nelson kneeling on the deck, supporting himself with his hand, before falling onto his side. Hardy rushed to him, at which point, Nelson smiled: Hardy, I do believe they have done it at last .... my backbone is shot through.[244]

He had been hit by a musket ball, fired from the mizzen-top of Redoutable, at a range of 50 feet (15 m). The ball entered his left shoulder, passed through a lung,[164] then his spine at the sixth and seventh thoracic vertebrae, and lodged two inches (5 cm) below his right shoulder blade, in the muscles of his back. Nelson was carried below to the cockpit, by sergeant major of marines Robert Adair, and two seamen. As he was being carried down, he asked them to pause while he gave advice to a midshipman on the handling of the tiller.[245] He then draped a handkerchief over his face to avoid causing alarm amongst the crew. He was taken to ship surgeon William Beatty, telling him: You can do nothing for me. I have but a short time to live. My back is shot through.[246] Nelson was made comfortable, fanned, and brought lemonade and watered wine to drink, after he complained of feeling hot and thirsty. He asked several times to see Hardy, who was on deck supervising the battle, and asked Beatty to remember him to Emma, his daughter, and his friends.[246]

Hardy came belowdecks to see Nelson, just after half-past two, and informed him that a number of enemy ships had surrendered. Nelson told him that he was sure to die, and begged him to pass his possessions on to Emma.[247] Those with Nelson, at this point, were the chaplain Alexander Scott, the purser Walter Burke, Nelson's steward, Chevalier, and Beatty. Nelson, fearing that a gale was blowing up, instructed Hardy to be sure to anchor. After reminding him to "take care of poor Lady Hamilton", Nelson said: "Kiss me, Hardy".[247] Beatty recorded that Hardy knelt and kissed Nelson on the cheek. He then stood for a minute or two, before kissing Nelson on the forehead. Nelson asked, "Who is that?" On hearing that it was Hardy, he replied, "God bless you, Hardy."[247]

By now very weak, Nelson continued to murmur instructions to Burke and Scott, "fan, fan ... rub, rub ... drink, drink." Beatty had heard Nelson murmur, "Thank God I have done my duty", and when he returned, Nelson's voice had faded and his pulse was very weak.[247] Nelson looked up, as Beatty took his pulse, then closed his eyes. Scott, who remained by Nelson as he died, recorded his last words as, "God and my country".[248] Nelson died at half-past four in the afternoon, three hours after he had been shot.[247] He was 47 years old.

The Death of Nelson by Daniel Maclise (Houses of Parliament, London)

Return to England[edit]

Nelson's body was placed in a cask of brandy mixed with camphor and myrrh, which was then lashed to the Victory's mainmast and placed under guard.[249] This was a controversial decision, with the public later believing it would have been better for him to have been put in rum instead to better preserve him.[250] Victory was towed to Gibraltar after the battle, and, on arrival, the body was transferred to a lead-lined coffin filled with spirits of wine and his effects, uniforms and papers sent separately.[249] Collingwood's dispatches about the battle were carried to England aboard HMS Pickle, and when the news arrived in London, a messenger was sent to Merton Place to bring the news of Nelson's death to Emma Hamilton. She later recalled, They brought me word, Mr Whitby from the Admiralty. "Show him in directly", I said. He came in, and with a pale countenance and faint voice, said, "We have gained a great Victory." – "Never mind your Victory", I said. "My letters—give me my letters" – Captain Whitby was unable to speak—tears in his eyes and a deathly paleness over his face made me comprehend him. I believe I gave a scream and fell back, and for ten hours I could neither speak nor shed a tear.[251]

King George III, on receiving the news, is alleged to have said, in tears, "We have lost more than we have gained."[252] The Times reported: We do not know whether we should mourn or rejoice. The country has gained the most splendid and decisive Victory that has ever graced the naval annals of England; but it has been dearly purchased.[252]

Funeral[edit]

Main article: State funeral of Horatio Nelson

Print of the royal barge carrying Nelson's body

Nelson's coffin in the crossing of St Paul's, during the funeral service; the dome hung with captured French and Spanish flags

The sarcophagus of Nelson in the crypt of St Paul's

Nelson's body was unloaded from the Victory at the Nore. It was conveyed upriver, in Commander Sir George Grey's yacht Chatham, to Greenwich and placed inside a lead coffin. The lead coffin was then placed inside a wooden one, made from the mast of L'Orient, which had been salvaged after the Battle of the Nile.

He lay in state for three days in the Painted Hall of Greenwich Hospital, where the surrounding arrangements all but disintegrated, under the crush of crowds far greater than authorities had anticipated.[164] His body was then taken upriver, aboard a barge originally used as King Charles II's state barge; accompanied by Lord Samuel Hood, chief mourner Sir Peter Parker, and the Prince of Wales.[253] The Prince of Wales, at first, announced his intention of attending the funeral as chief mourner. However, he ultimately attended in a private capacity, along with his brothers, when his father, King George III, reminded him that it was against protocol for the heir to the throne to attend the funerals of anyone except members of the royal family.[254]

On 8 January 1806, the coffin was taken into the Admiralty for the night, attended by Nelson's chaplain, Alexander Scott.[253] The following day, 9 January, a funeral procession consisting of 32 admirals, over a hundred captains, and an escort of 10,000 soldiers took the coffin from the Admiralty to St Paul's Cathedral.[255] After a four-hour service, he was interred within a crypt, in a sarcophagus originally carved for Cardinal Wolsey;[5] the sarcophagus and its base had been previously taken over for the tomb of Henry VIII, which was never completed.[256] The sailors charged with folding the flag, which they were to then place on Nelson's coffin after it had been lowered through the floor of the nave, instead tore it into fragments, each taking a piece as a memorial of their fallen commander.[257][164]

Assessment[edit]

Pierre-Nicolas Legrand de Lérant's Apotheosis of Nelson, c. 1805–18. Nelson ascends into immortality as the Battle of Trafalgar rages in the background. He is supported by Neptune, while Fame holds a crown of stars as a symbol of immortality over Nelson's head. A grieving Britannia holds out her arms, while Hercules, Mars, Minerva and Jupiter look on.

Nelson was regarded as a highly effective leader, and someone who was able to sympathise with the needs of his men. He based his command on love, rather than authority, inspiring both his superiors and his subordinates with his considerable courage, commitment and charisma—dubbed "the Nelson touch".[258][259] Nelson combined this talent with an adept grasp of strategy and politics, making him a highly successful naval commander. Admiral Togo, himself often called "the Nelson of the East", placed Nelson as among the greatest naval commanders in history—second only to Admiral Yi Sun-sin.[260] The memorandum Nelson wrote before Trafalgar expresses his attitude well: "No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy."[261]

Nelson's personality was complex, often characterised by a desire to be noticed—both by his superiors and the public. He was easily flattered by praise, and dismayed when he felt he was not given sufficient credit for his actions.[262] This led him to take risks, and to enthusiastically publicise his resultant successes,[263] which was not always considered acceptable at the time.[264] Nelson was also highly confident in his abilities, determined and able to make important decisions.[265] His active career meant that he was considerably experienced in combat and was a shrewd judge of his opponents, able to identify and exploit his enemies' weaknesses.[258]

He was often prone to insecurities, however, as well as violent mood swings,[266] and was extremely vain; he loved to receive decorations and tributes.[267] Despite his personality, he remained a highly professional leader and was driven all his life by a strong sense of duty.[266] Nelson's fame reached new heights after his death, and he came to be regarded as one of Britain's greatest military heroes, ranked alongside the Duke of Marlborough and Duke of Wellington.[268] In the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons programme in 2002, Nelson was voted the ninth greatest Briton of all time.[269]

Aspects of Nelson's life and career were controversial, both during his lifetime and after his death. His affair with Emma Hamilton was widely remarked upon, and disapproved of, to the extent that Emma was denied permission to attend his funeral. She and their daughter, Horatia, were also subsequently ignored by the government, which awarded Nelson's money and titles only to legitimate family.[270] Nelson's actions during the reoccupation of Naples have also been the subject of debate. His approval of the wave of reprisals against the Jacobins, who had surrendered under the terms agreed by Cardinal Ruffo, as well as his personal intervention in securing the execution of Francesco Caracciolo, are considered by some biographers, such as Robert Southey, to have been a shameful breach of honour. A prominent contemporary, politician Charles James Fox, was among those who attacked Nelson for his actions at Naples, declaring in the House of Commons: I wish that the atrocities of which we hear so much and which I abhor as much as any man, were indeed unexampled. I fear that they do not belong exclusively to the French – Naples for instance has been what is called "delivered", and yet, if I am rightly informed, it has been stained and polluted by murders so ferocious, and by cruelties of every kind so abhorrent, that the heart shudders at the recital ... [The besieged rebels] demanded that a British officer should be brought forward, and to him they capitulated. They made terms with him under the sanction of the British name. Before they sailed their property was confiscated, numbers were thrown into dungeons, and some of them, I understand, notwithstanding the British guarantee, were actually executed.[271] Other pro-republican writers produced books and pamphlets decrying the events in Naples as atrocities.[272] Later assessments, including one by Andrew Lambert, have stressed that the armistice had not been authorised by the King of Naples, and that the retribution meted out by the Neapolitans was not unusual for the time. Lambert also suggests that Nelson, in fact, acted to put an end to the bloodshed; using his ships and men to restore order in the city.[272]

Legacy[edit]

Main articles: Legacy of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson and Monuments and memorials to Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson

See also: List of places named after Horatio Nelson, HMS Lord Nelson, and HMS Nelson

Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London

Nelson's influence continued long after his death, and saw periodic revivals of interest, especially during times of crisis in Britain. In the 1860s, Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson appealed to the image and tradition of Nelson, in order to oppose the defence cuts being made by Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.[273] First Sea Lord Jackie Fisher was a keen exponent of Nelson during the early years of the twentieth century, and often emphasised his legacy during his period of naval reform.[274] Winston Churchill also found Nelson to be a source of inspiration during the Second World War.[275]

Nelson has been frequently depicted in art and literature; appearing in paintings by Benjamin West and Arthur William Devis, and in books and biographies by John McArthur, James Stanier Clarke and Robert Southey.[276] Nelson is also celebrated and commemorated in numerous songs, written both during his life and following his death. Nelson's victory in the Battle of the Nile is commemorated in "The Battle of the Nile: a favourite patriotic song".[277] Thomas Attwood's "Nelson's Tomb: A Favourite Song" commemorates Nelson's death in the Battle of Trafalgar.[278] In 1797, the famous composer Haydn wrote a mass to commemorate Nelson's stunning defeat over Napoleon and the French. In 1800, Nelson visited Eisenstadt for four days and most certainly saw Haydn's new mass and in response he met and gave the elderly Haydn a watch he wore during the battle.

The city of Nelson in New Zealand is named after him.[279]

A number of monuments and memorials were constructed across the country, and abroad, to honour his memory and achievements. Dublin's monument to Nelson, Nelson's Pillar, completed in 1809, was destroyed by Irish republicans in 1966.[280] In Montreal, a statue was started in 1808 and completed in 1809.[281] In Great Yarmouth, on the coast in his home county of Norfolk, the Britannia Monument (aka the Norfolk Naval Pillar) to Nelson was erected in 1819, with dedications at the base to his four main naval victories. Others followed around the world, with London's Trafalgar Square being created in his memory in 1835 and the centrepiece, Nelson's Column, finished in 1843.[282] A Royal Society of Arts blue plaque was unveiled in 1876, to commemorate Nelson, at 147 New Bond Street.[283] The architect of the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Sir Aston Webb placed a window high in the chapel such that annually, on 21 October at the time of Nelson's death, the light from it falls on the statue of Christ behind the altar.[284]

Nelson and his monuments are seen more critically in countries that felt the negative aspects of colonialism, and who may seek to revise their public history. Major public memorials in primary locations in some cities have been subject to protest and removal as conscious acts. In 1966, the Nelson Pillar in Dublin was blown up by Irish Republicans: a novelty folk song, "Up Went Nelson", topped the Irish pop charts in the wake of the explosion, while a newspaper article marking the 55th anniversary noted: "For many, the biggest surprise about the blowing up of Nelson's Pillar...is why it took 157 years. The resentment had run deep. Almost fifty years after the 1916 Rising an Englishman still towered over every other notable in the city, many groused."[285] Across the Atlantic, in the Caribbean in 2020, after years of campaigning, the Nelson Statue in National Heroes Square, Bridgetown, Barbados, was removed and placed in a museum. It had stood since 1813, in a central public space of the capital known until 1999 as Trafalgar Square. The Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley said at the ceremony marking the statue's removal:

National Heroes Square must reflect our heroes. And ... while we accept that the statue of the vice admiral Lord Horatio Nelson is an important historic relic, it is not a relic to be placed in the National Heroes Square of a nation that has had to fight for too long to shape its destiny and to forge a positive future for its citizens.[286]

Titles[edit]

Nelson's titles, as inscribed on his coffin and read out at the funeral by the Garter King at Arms, Sir Isaac Heard, were: The Most Noble Lord Horatio Nelson, Viscount and Baron Nelson, of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk, Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough in the said County, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Vice Admiral of the White Squadron of the Fleet, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean, Duke of Bronte in the Kingdom of Sicily, Knight Grand Cross of the Sicilian Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit, Member of the Ottoman Order of the Crescent, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Saint Joachim.[287]

Nelson received large Naval Gold Medals for the battles of St Vincent, the Nile and, posthumously, Trafalgar, one of very few recipients of three such medals.[288] Nelson was granted a royal licence in 1802 to receive and wear the foreign Order of Saint Joachim.[289]

Following his victory at the Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797), On 27 September 1797, he was knighted and received the Order of the Bath.

He was a Colonel of Marines from 1795 to 1797[123] and voted a Freeman of the cities and boroughs of London (10 March 1797), Bath, Salisbury, Exeter (15 January 1801),[290] Plymouth, Monmouth, Sandwich, Oxford (22 July 1802),[291] Hereford, Haverfordwest (in 1802)[292][293] and Worcester (30 August 1802).[294][295] The University of Oxford, in full Congregation, bestowed the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law upon Nelson on 30 July 1802.[296][123]

In 1799, Nelson was created Duke of Bronte (Italian: Duca di Bronte), of the Kingdom of Sicily (after 1816, existing in the nobility of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies), by King Ferdinand III of Sicily, and after briefly experimenting with the signature "Brontë Nelson of the Nile", he signed himself "Nelson & Brontë" for the rest of his life.[297] Nelson had no legitimate children; his daughter, Horatia, married the Reverend Philip Ward, with whom she had ten children before her death in 1881.[298]

Since Nelson died without legitimate issue, his viscountcy and his barony created in 1798, both "of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk", became extinct upon his death.[299] However, the barony created in 1801, "of the Nile and of Hilborough in the County of Norfolk", passed by a special remainder, which included Nelson's father and sisters and their male issue, to William Nelson, who was Nelson's older brother. In November 1805, William Nelson was created Earl Nelson and Viscount Merton, of Trafalgar and of Merton in the County of Surrey, in recognition of his late brother's services, and he also inherited the dukedom of Bronte.[300]

Armorial bearings[edit]

Contemporary drawing of Nelson's heraldic achievement before the Battle of Trafalgar.[301]

Arms were granted and confirmed on 20 October 1797. Nelson's paternal arms (Or, a cross flory sable over all a bendlet gules) were augmented to honour his naval victories. After the Battle of Cape St Vincent (14 February 1797), Nelson was created a Knight of the Bath and was granted heraldic supporters (appropriate for peers) of a sailor and a lion.[302]

In honour of the Battle of the Nile in 1798, the Crown granted him an augmentation of honour blazoned On a chief wavy argent a palm tree between a disabled ship and a ruinous battery all issuant from waves of the sea all proper (deemed a notorious example of debased heraldry),[303] the Latin motto Palmam qui meruit ferat ("let him who has earned it bear the palm"), and added to his supporters a palm branch in the hand of the sailor and in the paw of the lion, and a "tri-colored flag and staff in the mouth of the latter".[304]

After Nelson's death, his elder brother and heir William Nelson, 1st Earl Nelson, was granted a further augmentation: On a fess wavy overall azure the word TRAFALGAR or.[305] This additional augmentation was not used by those who succeeded him in the earldom, including the present Earl Nelson.[306]

The Garter King of Arms wrote the following explanation of the arms to Nelson's wife:

In the Chief of the Arms a Palm Tree (emblematic of Victory) between a disabled Ship and a ruinous Battery, form striking memorials of the glorious event of 1 August (1798), in the Bay of Aboukir, near the Mouth of the Nile. In the Crest, the Chelengk (a more minute description of which I had the pleasure of delivering to your Ladyship) is an indication of the distinctions rendered to his Lordship's merits by the Grand Signior; and the Naval Crown may bear a striking allusion to his Lordship's victory in those Seas, where the Corona Navalis was first conferred by the Romans on persons who had eminently distinguished themselves in Naval combats. The Palm Branch in the hand of the Sailor, and in the paw of the Lion, is a continuation of the emblem in the Chief of the Arms, as well as allusive to the Motto, "Palmam qui meruit ferat" ("let he who earns the palm bear it"). The tri-coloured Flag of the subdued Enemy was added to, and involved with, the Colours in the mouth of the Lion, which had been granted to his Lordship in commemoration of his distinguished gallantry and services, on 14 February 1797. With regard to your Ladyship's question—whether Lord Nelson is, in consequence of the Royal Warrant, precluded from the use of his Crest of the San Josef (a ship he won in battle from the Spaniards), I have no hesitation in giving my decided opinion, that he may bear it, with his new Crest, at his own pleasure.[citation needed]

The herald Wilfrid Scott-Giles (d. 1982) wrote a jocular verse describing the successive augmentations to the Nelson arms, ending with the line "But where, alas! is Nelson's ancient cross?"[307]

Original coat of arms of the house of Nelson

Coat of arms after 1797

Coat of arms used after the Battle of the Nile. An example of debased heraldry.[303]

Coat of arms used by William Nelson

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Early life and workWinnie Madikizela-MandelaRead more about Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.What publications did Nelson Mandela write?Nelson Mandela’s writings included I Am Prepared to Die (1964; rev. ed. 1986); No Easy Walk to Freedom (1965; updated ed. 2002); The Struggle Is My Life (1978; rev. ed. 1990); In His Own Words (2003); and Long Walk to Freedom (1994), which chronicles his early life and years in prison. Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years (2017), released posthumously, is the unfinished draft of his second volume of memoirs; it was completed by Mandla Langa.

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Presidency and retirementNelson Mandela: From shepherd to presidentProfile of Nelson Mandela.(more)See all videos for this articleNelson Mandela (born July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa—died December 5, 2013, Johannesburg) Black nationalist and the first Black president of South Africa (1994–99). His negotiations in the early 1990s with South African Pres. F.W. de Klerk helped end the country’s apartheid system of racial segregation and ushered in a peaceful transition to majority rule. Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993 for their efforts. Early life and work Nelson Mandela was the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Madiba clan of the Xhosa-speaking Tembu people. After his father’s death, young Nelson was raised by Jongintaba, the regent of the Tembu. Nelson renounced his claim to the chieftainship to become a lawyer. He attended South African Native College (later the University of Fort Hare) and studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand; he later passed the qualification exam to become a lawyer. In 1944 he joined the African National Congress (ANC), a Black-liberation group, and became a leader of its Youth League. That same year he met and married Evelyn Ntoko Mase. Mandela subsequently held other ANC leadership positions, through which he helped revitalize the organization and oppose the apartheid policies of the ruling National Party. In 1952 in Johannesburg, with fellow ANC leader Oliver Tambo, Mandela established South Africa’s first Black law practice, specializing in cases resulting from the post-1948 apartheid legislation. Also that year, Mandela played an important role in launching a campaign of defiance against South Africa’s pass laws, which required nonwhites to carry documents (known as passes, pass books, or reference books) authorizing their presence in areas that the government deemed “restricted” (i.e., generally reserved for the white population). He traveled throughout the country as part of the campaign, trying to build support for nonviolent means of protest against the discriminatory laws. In 1955 he was involved in drafting the Freedom Charter, a document calling for nonracial social democracy in South Africa. Mandela’s antiapartheid activism made him a frequent target of the authorities. Starting in 1952, he was intermittently banned (severely restricted in travel, association, and speech). In December 1956 he was arrested with more than 100 other people on charges of treason that were designed to harass antiapartheid activists. Mandela went on trial that same year and eventually was acquitted in 1961. During the extended court proceedings, he divorced his first wife and married Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela (Winnie Madikizela-Mandela).

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Underground activity and the Rivonia Trial After the massacre of unarmed Black South Africans by police forces at Sharpeville in 1960 and the subsequent banning of the ANC, Mandela abandoned his nonviolent stance and began advocating acts of sabotage against the South African regime. He went underground (during which time he became known as the Black Pimpernel for his ability to evade capture) and was one of the founders of Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), the military wing of the ANC. In 1962 he went to Algeria for training in guerrilla warfare and sabotage, returning to South Africa later that year. On August 5, shortly after his return, Mandela was arrested at a road block in Natal; he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison.

Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela in prison on Robben Island, off Cape Town.(more)In October 1963 the imprisoned Mandela and several other men were tried for sabotage, treason, and violent conspiracy in the infamous Rivonia Trial, named after a fashionable suburb of Johannesburg where raiding police had discovered quantities of arms and equipment at the headquarters of the underground Umkhonto we Sizwe. Mandela’s speech from the dock, in which he admitted the truth of some of the charges made against him, was a classic defense of liberty and defiance of tyranny. (His speech garnered international attention and acclaim and was published later that year as I Am Prepared to Die.) On June 12, 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, narrowly escaping the death penalty.

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Nelson, New Zealand: The Complete Travel Guide to Nelson [2024]

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Trips 7-Day Trips 14-Day Trips 21-Day Trips 1-Month Trips Travel Styles Budget Travel Family Friendly Foodie Luxury Travel Weddings & Honeymoons Work in NZ Job Listings Working Holiday Visa Job Search Tips Popular Backpacker Jobs Work Tips & Essentials Work For Accommodation Study in New Zealand icon-menu twitter facebook-official pinterest-circled youtube-play instagram © Barry Peck - www.nelsontasman.nz Nelson & Abel Tasman The Complete Travel Guide to Nelson [2024] © Barry Peck – www.nelsontasman.nz How to Plan the Best Trip to Nelson Tucked away in Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island, Nelson doesn’t sound like much but it’s sure close to much. New Zealand’s sunniest city is surrounded by the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks to the east, the Nelson Lakes National Park to the south and the Mt Richmond Forest Park to the west. What’s more, the city is the home of creatives and productive people where culture is easy to find between the multitude of vineyards and breweries, art galleries and artisanries. Some might say that the best bits of New Zealand are wrapped into one here in the city that’s also the city with the most sunshine hours in the country. So whether you’re a couple, solo traveller or a family; on a budget or looking for a luxury getaway, you’ll find the right lever to pull in this complete travel guide to Nelson. Common Questions About Nelson Let’s cut to the chase with this travel guide to Nelson and answer the most common questions that travellers have. Is Nelson Worth Visiting? Yes – if you are into arts, crafts, wine, beer, artisan goods and sunny weather, Nelson is known for all of these things and more. While Nelson is associated with its surrounding national parks (such as Abel Tasman), it is still an hours’ drive away from most, so we recommend staying closer to the national parks if that’s all you’re here to do. What is Nelson Known For? Nelson is known as New Zealand’s sunniest city due to having the most sunshine hours. It’s also the place where the first rugby match was played in New Zealand. Where is Nelson Located? At the top of the South Island in the Nelson Tasman region of New Zealand. What is the Weather Usually Like in Nelson? Nelson is the city with the most sunshine hours in New Zealand, therefore, the weather is usually mild and sunny. The daily average temperature is 12.7°C/54.8°F, while the yearly average rainfall is 1,240mm/48.8″. Find out more in What is the Weather Like in New Zealand? How Do You Get to Nelson? Nelson is well connected to the rest of New Zealand by road along State Highway 6. The closest international airport in terms of travel time is Christchurch Airport (5h45min drive). Nelson also has a well-connected domestic airport, Nelson Airport, with frequent flights between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Nelson is on the main national bus route, which you can find more information about in Bus Networks in New Zealand. © Grant Stirling - www.nelsontasman.nz What to Do in Nelson Aside from epic day trips into the surrounding national parks, what else is there to do in Nelson? Heading to the beach is a popular option in the city with the most sunshine hours, with Tahunanui Beach and Rabbit Island being at the top of most peoples’ list. If you’re a bit of a foodie, you have the Great Taste Cycle Trail taking you to various vineyards, breweries and artisans to indulge in. Of course, Nelson has its fair share of museums, nature parks and gardens. The Top Experiences in Nelson What are the must-dos? Here are some of the Nelson highlights: Feel your toes in the sand at Tahunanui Beach Cycle the Great Taste Trail, Dun Mountain Trail or one of the others listed in our guide to Mountain Biking in Nelson Tasman Check out the views from The Centre of New Zealand See native birds at Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Step back in time at Founders Heritage Park… … And the list continues over in our 20 Best Things to Do in Nelson. Rainy Day Activities Although Nelson is New Zealand’s sunniest city, it’s still New Zealand. Therefore, a rainy day backup is never a bad idea. Some options include: Visit the Nelson Classic Car Museum Enjoy tastings at the breweries listed in the 8 Best Craft Breweries in Nelson Take a free tour of Pic’s Peanut Butter World. For more ideas, head over to the 10 Things to Do in Nelson on a Rainy Day. © Choice As Media - www.nelsontasman.nz Where to Stay in Nelson Other than the accommodations we recommend on the righthand side of this complete travel guide to Nelson (or at the bottom, if you’re on mobile), we have compiled entire lists of places to stay based on price, what’s best for families or a couples’ getaway, as well as premium stays. What’s more, each list is compiled by real writers; not some algorithm. 10 Best Motels 10 Best Hotels 10 Best Backpacker Hostels 10 Best Budget Accommodations 10 Best Family Accommodations 10 Best Luxury Accommodations 5 Best Romantic Accommodations Nelson: A Guide to Cheap Long-Term Accommodation © NZPocketGuide.com Nelson for Budget Travellers Got your eyes on some pricey experiences in the Abel Tasman National Park? Perhaps you want to do one of the Great Walks, which comes with its associated costs? No worries. Nelson city is a good base to keep the costs low in between exploring the highlights of the top of the South Island. Not only does the city have a variety of free and cheap attractions within walking distance of the city centre, but its budget accommodations are abundant, friendly and refreshing. Check them out and more in The Guide to Nelson on a Budget. Budget Activities in Nelson Walk to The Centre of New Zealand Check out the Queen’s and Miyazu Gardens Hike the Cable Bay Walkway Browse the Suter Art Gallery Check out the One Ring at Jens Hansen – The Ringmaker. Learn about each activity and many others in the 15 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Nelson. Budget Accommodation in Nelson Nelson is home to some of the most impressive backpacker hostels in the country, all offering excellent value with many freebies and a welcoming ambience. You’ll also find plenty of affordable motels and a couple of holiday parks in Nelson. Check out the best in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Nelson. © www.nelsontasman.nz Nelson for Luxury Travellers Nelson has the vineyards, the golden sands, subtropical forest and magnificent mountains: all you need to do is find the experiences to match. We’ve made it effortless with The Luxury Guide to Nelson outlining the lavish land, sea and air experiences across the Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson. From sailing to soaring, there are many premium ways to enjoy Nelson, as well as day spas and wineries should you need some pampering. Complete your stay in an international hotel or boutique lodge for a trip to remember. Luxury Activities in Nelson Explore Nelson Tasman by helicopter with Helicopters Nelson (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) Take a scenic flight with Golden Bay Air Do a day tour or liveaboard holiday with Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures (on Viator and Tripadvisor) Hire a private charter with Abel Tasman Charters – Day Tours (on Viator and Tripadvisor) Do a small-group or private tour of Abel Tasman or Golden Bay with Wine, Art & Wilderness (on Viator and Tripadvisor). For the finer details on each experience and others, take a look at the 8 Best Luxury Experiences in Nelson. Luxury Accommodations in Nelson Nelson is best known for its international and boutique inner-city hotels, especially the Grand Arden Nelson Monaco with its brick architecture and village ambience. Outside of the city, you’ll find all sorts of luxury lodges and eco-resorts scattered around Tasman Bay. Check out our recommendations in the 10 Best Luxury Accommodations in Nelson. © George Guille - www.nelsontasman.nz Nelson for Families With lots of sunshine and so many things for families to do, a trip to Nelson is too easy. In town, you have wonderful gardens and a heritage park that kids love, educational experiences and the museums and the wildlife sanctuary, as well as active adventures on the family-friendly bike trails. However, a family visit to Nelson is not complete without a detour to the Abel Tasman National Park, which is the most accessible for families with waka (Maori canoe) and sailing tours suitable for all ages. So, plan your family vacation complete with where to stay using The Guide to Nelson for Families. Family Activities in Nelson Ride the world’s longest flying fox and much more at Cable Bay Adventure Park (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) Paddle in a Maori canoe in the Abel Tasman National Park (on Viator and Tripadvisor) Visit the old-timey town of Founders Park Check out the birds at Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Ride bikes to Rabbit Island. For more details on each activity and more, see the 10 Things to Do in Nelson with Kids. Family-Friendly Accommodation in Nelson Nelson is almost overrun with motels and apartments that make a family stay affordable and easy with access to the comforts of home. Alternatively, the holiday parks surrounding Nelson are an attraction in themselves for kids with their recreational activities and facilities. Check them out in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Nelson. © www.nelsontasman.nz Nelson for Couples There’s something about Nelson that’s effortlessly romantic, whether it’s the soothing sunny climate, the golden-sand beaches or surrounding vineyards. Either way, couples are spoiled with the number of fabulous date nights they could be having here between the lavish sunset dinners at Mapua Wharf and the active adventures like kayaking together on the vibrant turquoise water of the Abel Tasman National Park. Plan your honeymoon or romantic getaway to Tasman Bay with The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Nelson. Things to Do in Nelson for Couples Team up in a double kayak in the Abel Tasman National Park with Abel Tasman Kayaks (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) or Wilsons Abel Tasman See the love birds at the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Tackle a hike together in the Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes or Cable Bay Dine and watch the sunset from Mapua Wharf Indulge in a couple’s massage. For more information on each experience, see the 10 Most Romantic Things to Do in Nelson for Couples. Romantic Accommodation in Nelson Whether your idea of romance is a four-star hotel, a boutique historical hotel or quaint cottages among the vines, there’s something to suit all couples in and around Nelson. Check out some options in the 5 Best Romantic Accommodations in Nelson. © NZPocketGuide.com Nelson for Foodies While we’ve mentioned a lot of amazing things to do in Nelson between the national parks and city attractions, some might argue that the best thing about Nelson is the food. We know, we know – New Zealand is about the landscapes, not the food. But the artisans, brewers and winemakers of Nelson really start to change travellers’ priorities with their alluring foodie experiences to excite the senses. The food scene is so prominent in Nelson that there’s a 177km bike trail called the “Great Taste Trail“. If we need to say more, then scooch over to The Food Guide to Nelson: Places to Eat & Food Tours to learn more about Nelson’s food scene. Food Tours and Activities in Nelson Cycle the Great Taste Trail Visit Nelson’s wineries and breweries Take a look around one of Nelson’s markets Tour Pic’s Peanut Butter World Visit Upper Moutere and its artisans. For more details on each experience and its locations, see the 9 Best Foodie Experiences in Nelson. Where to Eat in Nelson Urban Eatery (278 Hardy Street) The Styx (272 Wakefield Quay) Bistro 276 (276 Trafalgar Street) The Indian Cafe (94 Collingwood Street) East St. (8 Church Street) Foodie Accommodation in Nelson Either stay in self-catering accommodation where you can get creative with the local products found at The Nelson Market or stay in a hotel with a restaurant to ensure treating your tastebuds is never too far away. Check out some options in the 10 Best Accommodations in Nelson for Foodies. Nelson Accommodation Grand Arden Nelson Monaco The Bug Backpackers Harbourside Lodge Boutique Hotel Warwick House The Waters Cable Bay Nest Kina Beach Vineyard Cottages The Wheelhouse Inn Delorenzo Studio Apartments The Sands Palms Motel Saxton Lodge Motel Tahuna Beach Kiwi Holiday Park Quest Nelson The Beachcomber Hotel Nelson City TOP 10 Holiday Park Cedar Grove Motor Lodge Cooper’s Cottage Riverwalk Apartments Cliff-top Holiday Home Seaside Tahuna Nelson River Villa Golden Hills Farm Cottage Seaside Apartment Nelson Waterfront Apartment The Hotel Nelson Trailways Hotel Nelson Mid City Motor Lodge Palazzo Motor Lodge Waimarie on Riverside Motel & Apartments Beaches Nelson Chelsea Park Motor Lodge Greens Motel Admirals Motor Inn Tudor Lodge Motel Riverlodge Motel Amber Court Motel ASURE Fountain Resort Motel Apex Motorlodge Boutique Motel Brightwater Motor Inn Nelson Kings Gate Motel Arcadia Motel Courtesy Court Motel Bella Vista Motel Nelson Arrow Motel Apartments Tasman Bay Backpackers Prince Albert Backpackers Paradiso Backpackers The Palace Backpackers InnBetween Backpackers Wakatu Lodge Wakatu Hotel Fellworth House for Solo Travellers Joya Garden & Villa Studios Morning Bloom Cottage Bed and Breakfast Grampians B&B The Honest Lawyer, Ascend Hotel Collection Courtesy Court Motel Rutherford Hotel The Sails Find out more about tour top picks in the 10 Best Hotels in Nelson and 10 Best Motels in Nelson. More About Nelson That’s it for our complete travel guide to Nelson but by no means the end of our Nelson travel tips! Check out the following guides for more advice on what to do nearby: 11 Best Things to Do in the Abel Tasman National Park 10 Best Things to Do in Nelson Lakes National Park 10 Best Things to Do in Kahurangi National Park 10 Nelson Tasman Must-Dos 10 Best Things to Do in Richmond 10 Best Things to Do in Motueka 5 Best Things to Do in Wakefield & Tapawera 10 Best Things to Do in Murchison 7 Best Things to Do in St Arnaud 6 Best Things to Do in Maruia The Complete Travel Guide to Takaka The Guide to The Lord of the Rings in Nelson Tasman Finally, plan more of your South Island trip using the South Island in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary or South Island in One Week: Road Trip Itinerary. You’ll also find more advice for planning an epic NZ trip in The Best Travel Guide to New Zealand. Author Laura S. This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube. Contact Laura via our contact page Was this article useful? Super useful! Needs improvement Facebook Pinterest Twitter Nelson Accommodation Grand Arden Nelson Monaco The Bug Backpackers Harbourside Lodge Boutique Hotel Warwick House The Waters Cable Bay Nest Kina Beach Vineyard Cottages The Wheelhouse Inn Delorenzo Studio Apartments The Sands Palms Motel Saxton Lodge Motel Tahuna Beach Kiwi Holiday Park Quest Nelson The Beachcomber Hotel Nelson City TOP 10 Holiday Park Cedar Grove Motor Lodge Cooper’s Cottage Riverwalk Apartments Cliff-top Holiday Home Seaside Tahuna Nelson River Villa Golden Hills Farm Cottage Seaside Apartment Nelson Waterfront Apartment The Hotel Nelson Trailways Hotel Nelson Mid City Motor Lodge Palazzo Motor Lodge Waimarie on Riverside Motel & Apartments Beaches Nelson Chelsea Park Motor Lodge Greens Motel Admirals Motor Inn Tudor Lodge Motel Riverlodge Motel Amber Court Motel ASURE Fountain Resort Motel Apex Motorlodge Boutique Motel Brightwater Motor Inn Nelson Kings Gate Motel Arcadia Motel Courtesy Court Motel Bella Vista Motel Nelson Arrow Motel Apartments Tasman Bay Backpackers Prince Albert Backpackers Paradiso Backpackers The Palace Backpackers InnBetween Backpackers Wakatu Lodge Wakatu Hotel Fellworth House for Solo Travellers Joya Garden & Villa Studios Morning Bloom Cottage Bed and Breakfast Grampians B&B The Honest Lawyer, Ascend Hotel Collection Courtesy Court Motel Rutherford Hotel The Sails Find out more about tour top picks in the 10 Best Hotels in Nelson and 10 Best Motels in Nelson. Related Posts © www.nelsontasman.nz Nelson Tasman & Golden Bay – Guide for Backpackers © Virginia Woolf Photography 9 - www.nelsontasman.nz The Foodie Guide to Nelson © NZPocketGuide.com 7 Best Things to Do in St Arnaud © George Guille Media - www.nelsontasman.nz 9 Things to Do in Nelson for Foodies © Virginia Woolf Photography 9 - www.nelsontasman.nz 10 Romantic Activities in Nelson for Couples © Grant Stirling - www.nelsontasman.nz 17 Best Things to Do in Nelson Recommended For You © Unsplash© Unsplash South Island Hikes A Practical Guide to the Milford Track [2024] © Great South© Great South South Island Hikes 20 Best Walks & Hikes in Milford Sound ️ [2024] © NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com Milford Sound 20 BEST Stops on the Road to Milford Sound ️ [2024] DestinationsSouth Island South Pacific Islands North Island Travel TipsPrepare Your Trip Transportation Travel Advice Trip Ideas Essentials ActivitiesFree & Cheap Things To Do Must-Dos Outdoor Activities City Activities Hiking Hidden Gems Unique Activities Video Reviews Blog Reviews Connect With Us Footer Global twitter Footer Global facebook-official Footer Global pinterest-circled Footer Global youtube-play Footer Global instagram To contact us directly, use our contact page. 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24 Best Things to Do in Nelson, New Zealand

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24 Best Things to Do in Nelson, New Zealand

Erin •

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1 March 2024 •

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Nelson and the top of New Zealand’s South Island don’t attract the attention of further south, especially with international visitors.

This is a shame as there’s so much to explore including beaches, mountains, lakes, native bush, wineries, craft breweries, berry farms, art galleries and more. You can hike, mountain bike, kayak, shop, and sample delicious local products.

We spent two months in Nelson and found it an excellent base for exploring the region. It’s a small city that feels like a small town and there’s lots to offer in a compact package.

You can be browsing art galleries or sampling craft beer one minute and strolling along the river or up in the surrounding hills the next. Beautiful nature is easily accessible.

While it’s popular with Kiwis in the summer, Nelson doesn’t attract the tour buses or campervanners you’ll find further south, and we often had beaches and trails to ourselves.

Most tourists only visit Nelson for a couple of days with the main goal of visiting Abel Tasman National Park. I highly recommend spending longer here to enjoy more of the region.

Here are our favourite things to do in Nelson as well as the best places to eat and drink and tips on accommodation and transport.

At the end, there is also a handy map with everything mentioned.

ContentsWhere is Nelson in New Zealand?Video of the Best Nelson ActivitiesBest Things to Do in NelsonCentral NelsonNelson OutskirtsFurther Afield: The Best Day Trips from NelsonWhere to Eat in NelsonBest Bars in NelsonAccommodation in NelsonHow to Get to NelsonWhen to Visit NelsonNelson New Zealand MapMore New Zealand Posts

Where is Nelson in New Zealand?

Nelson is located at the top of the South Island of New Zealand on Tasman Bay.

It’s just over 100km (62 miles) east of Picton, where you’ll find the ferry to Wellington, the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, and the nearby Marlborough wine region.

The Nelson Tasman Region is home to three national parks all within a 90-minute drive of Nelson City: Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson Lakes National Park, and Kahurangi National Park.

If you’re looking for more travel ideas, see my epic guide to the best things to do in the South Island of New Zealand.

Back to Contents

Video of the Best Nelson Activities

Back to Contents

Best Things to Do in Nelson

I’ve divided our top things to do in Nelson into three areas: the city centre, the outskirts, and further afield locations which are great for day trips.

Many of these Nelson activities are free, but I’ve included costs when applicable. All prices are in New Zealand dollars. The current exchange rate is NZD $1 = USD $0.61, GBP £0.49, and EUR €0.57.

Back to Contents

Central Nelson

These Nelson attractions are located in the centre of the small city and are accessible on foot.

1) Stroll Along the Maitai River

The Maitai River near the centre of Nelson

I love how much green space there is in Nelson. The Maitai River is the perfect place for an easy walk or run and is close to the shops and cafes in the centre.

The 7.2km (4.5 mile) walkway along the river is paved near town and becomes gravel as you get further out.

It’s pretty and leafy and it doesn’t take long until you feel far from the city.

Along the way there are a few swimming holes such as Black Hole, Dennes Hole, and Sunday Hole where you can cool off in summer.

Black Hole swimming spot on the Maitai River

2) Climb to the Centre of New Zealand

The view of Nelson from the Centre of New Zealand

A slight detour off the Maitai River Walkway is another trail that takes you up Botanical Hill to the Centre of New Zealand.

It’s not the exact centre of the country, but surveyors in the 1870s used it as the centre point.

This was our regular walking route and we loved seeing how the view from the top changed in different weather.

You can see the whole city, surrounding hills, and across the bay to the mountains beyond. It really is a Nelson must do.

The hills surrounding Nelson from the top

It’s a bit of a climb to the top, but it’s not difficult if you’re reasonably fit. It took us about 20 minutes from the Botanic Sports Field at the bottom of the hill where the first rugby game in New Zealand was played in 1870.

From near the summit you can connect to a network of trails on the hillside—look out for the maps to see the different options including forest trails that take you to Branford Park.

You can find many of the routes on AllTrails+, it’s worth signing up for a subscription to save maps offline.

Our favourite is the Sir Stanley Whitehead Track which takes you along a ridge past grazing sheep with more fantastic views of the city and port.

Simon and sheep on the Sir Stanley Whitehead Track

At the end of the trail, you descend the hill and emerge near Founders Heritage Park (entry fees are $11.50 for adults/ $5 for children).

We haven’t visited the park, but if you have kids or are interested in history, it might be worth a visit. Miyazu Gardens, a pleasant Japanese garden (free entry), is also nearby.

3) Shop at the Saturday Market

Our friends with vegan burger pies from the Rainbow Kitchen stall at Nelson Market

The Nelson Market is held every Saturday morning (8am – 1pm) at Montgomery Square and is one of the most popular things to do in Nelson. Head there early to avoid the crowds.

The large outdoor market is an excellent opportunity to buy locally-made products including cheese, olive oil, honey, baked goods, and condiments. There are also many stalls selling clothes, jewellery, and art.

You can pick up an inexpensive meal from one of the many hot food stands.

We love the huge veggie rotis from the Taste of Sri Lanka stall and our friends recommend the vegan pies from the Rainbow Kitchen stand (try the lentil tahini pie with chilli sauce).

There are relatively few fresh produce stalls, but they are especially good in the summer when you can pick up the delicious locally grown berries (or see below for how to pick your own).

The much smaller Nelson Farmers’ Market is held on Wednesday (8am – 1.30pm) and Friday (8am – 1pm) on Halifax Street.

We preferred to pick up bread, vegetables, and fruit here as it is much less crowded than the Saturday market.

4) Hike up the Grampians (Followed by Afternoon Tea)

The view on the Grampians Trail

If you’ve already walked up to the Centre of New Zealand and are looking for more of a challenge, the Grampians is another beautiful walk.

The hike starts a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city in a residential area at the top of Collingwood Street (look for the trail map).

From here it took us about 50 minutes on the main trail to reach the summit—the beginning is very steep.

It’s worth it, though, as you soon feel like you’re in the countryside with sheep and horses grazing in the pastures.

The view down to the city and bay is superb for most of the way. Note that there is no view from the Telegraph Tower at the top, so there’s no need to go all the way unless you want the extra exercise.

From the centre of town the return walk took us about two hours.

The perfect way to reward yourself after the walk is with lunch and a glass of local wine in the lovely rose garden of nearby Melrose House, one of the best cafes in Nelson.

If you book in advance, you can also order their famous high tea at 2.30pm.

Melrose House – the perfect place for lunch or cake after the Grampians hike

5) Relax in Queens Gardens

Visiting Queens Gardens is one of the best things to do in Nelson

A worthwhile detour while strolling the Maitai River is to Queens Gardens which were opened in 1892 to celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

These small but lovely gardens are one of the best places to visit in Nelson for a quiet stroll or picnic.

The gardens are also home to the Suter Art Gallery and Cafe. The cafe was a favourite hangout of ours on sunny afternoons for cake and wine overlooking the gardens.

Drinking wine in the gardens at Suter Cafe

6) Follow the Nelson Art Trail

Red Art Gallery shop

Nelson is home to many artists and following the Nelson Art Trail to small galleries, which showcase their paintings, ceramics, jewellery, glass blowing and more, is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

The Suter Art Gallery is the largest art gallery in town. Entrance is free and there’s a lovely cafe, so it’s worth popping in. We found the exhibitions mixed—traditional landscapes alongside more interesting contemporary installations.

We also like having lunch in the Red Art Gallery.

7) Go Mountain Biking

We are not mountain bikers, but there are some quality trails close to the centre including the Dun Mountain Trail and the Coppermine Trail.

Our friends rented electric mountain bikes from Kiwi Journeys and said it was a fun way to explore the trails if you don’t have a lot of experience.

8) Visit Christ Church Cathedral

While I wouldn’t say visiting the 19th-century Cathedral is a Nelson must do, it is worth wandering through Trafalgar Square for a quick look.

Stairs lead up to the iconic bellower with its unique cut-out design. It’s surrounded by pretty gardens.

Back to Contents

Nelson Outskirts

On the outskirts of Nelson you’ll find the suburbs of Tahunanui and Stoke and the neighbouring town of Richmond.

Some parts are rather industrial and unattractive, but you’ll find plenty of worthwhile attractions and natural beauty beyond the highway.

This area is best visited by bike or car and you could combine many of these activities for a day trip.

9) Seek Out Native Birds at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

The Brook Sanctuary is a hidden gem in Nelson that deserves more visitors. It’s only 6km (4 miles) from the centre, but you feel far away from it all.

It’s the largest fenced reserve for endangered plants and creatures in the South Island.

As there are no predators, the native birds thrive and you can enjoy their birdsong as you explore the network of trails through the bush and alongside the river.

You can choose easy or more challenging trails. We wished we had worn hiking sandals as you do need to cross a small river to do the longer hikes.

The sanctuary is run by volunteers who talk you through the options when you arrive. Admission is $19 for adults/ $11 for children ($11 adults/ $6.50 children for locals). Hours are limited outside summer, so check the Brook Sanctuary website before you visit.

10) Swim and Stroll at Tahunanui Beach

Tahunanui Beach is one of Nelson’s highlights. This long, wide, grey sand beach is only a short drive or one-hour walk from the centre of town.

On sunny summer days the beach is very popular, but there’s plenty of space for everyone.

We always find a quiet spot amongst the dunes by driving to the far end of the car park (near the Nelson Fun Park and Beach Cafe) and heading to the stretch of beach just before the dog-friendly section.

The water is shallow and calm and great for swimming.

Close to the playground you can usually find an ice-cream stand or two. We love the Real Fruit Ice Cream Cart which uses local berries like boysenberries (expect a wait on busy days, though) and the Applebys Farm van who make ice-cream from their own locally-made milk.

There are also lots of activities for kids by the beach including a water slide, mini-golf, go-karting, model railway, and a zoo.

11) Go Standup Paddleboarding

Standup paddleboarding is one of the Nelson activities that is popular with both locals and visitors. It’s a great way to get out on the water and enjoy Tahunanui Beach.

You can hire SUP boards from Moana right on the beach for $25 for one hour.

The water is calm enough that it’s suitable for beginners, but it’s best before 11am when the wind usually picks up. Alternatively, you can arrange a paddle on the Maitai River which is even calmer.

We’ve paddleboarded a little before but decided to book an intermediate lesson to improve our skills ($70 for a one-hour lesson and two-hour board hire). Our teacher Tara is a NZ SUP champion and taught us useful techniques for choppy or windy conditions.

Moana also offers SUP yoga classes from $20 on Sunday mornings.

12) Admire Classic Cars

If you’re wondering what to do in Nelson on a rainy day, head to the Nelson Classic Car Museum ($19 adults/ $8 children) to see over 150 immaculate classic cars dating back to 1908.

We’re not particularly into cars but still enjoyed the stroll through motoring history, especially the 1950s Cadillacs.

13) Smell the Roses at Broadgreen Historic House

Broadgreen is a charming colonial house built in 1855. It’s now a museum that shows what family life was like in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Entrance is $7 adults/ $2 children and includes an optional tour by one of the volunteers.

While we didn’t make it into the house, we did enjoy strolling the Samuels’ Rose Garden outside (free entry) when it was in full bloom in November.

There are a few benches amongst the hundreds of varieties of roses and it’s a peaceful spot to read a book.

14) Sample Local Wine at the Moutere Hills Restaurant and Cellar Door

Our lunch at the former Forsters restaurant in the Moutere Hills Vineyard

The Marlborough Wine Region (90 minutes away) might be more famous, but Nelson has its own, quieter wine region where you can sample Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and aromatic varieties.

There are two wine-growing areas near Nelson. The Waimea Plains are nearer to the city, but I recommend heading up to Moutere Hills for a prettier and more rural setting of rolling hills. It’s a 40-minute drive from Nelson.

We enjoyed a beautifully presented lunch at the formerly known Forsters restaurant at the Moutere Hills Vineyard with views of the vineyard and a small lake with the hills beyond.

The restaurant and vineyard is now under new ownership and rebranded as Moutere Hills Restaurant and Cellar Door. Online reviews of the vineyard under new ownership are positive about the new food and drink offerings.

Afterwards we drove to Neudorf Vineyards for a tasting ($10). It was a friendly, low-key tasting at the counter—we enjoyed learning more about their wines but didn’t feel pressured to engage in wine-speak.

We bought a bottle of their Rosie’s Block Chardonnay which became our favourite white wine in New Zealand.

Their beautiful courtyard overlooks the vines and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

We would have loved to linger here in the shade of the huge tree with a glass of wine, but Simon had to drive. There’s no restaurant but you can buy bread and deli ingredients for a casual lunch.

The lovely Neudorf Vineyards courtyard

There’s more to this picturesque area than wine. Pick up the Moutere Artisans leaflet for details of the local food, drinks and crafts you can find.

You can also rent bikes from the Gentle Cycling Company who offer a self-guided wine tour to the flatter wine area.

This Hop on Hop off Wine Tour looks great for those who prefer a guided wine tour and covers a wide range of venues in the day.

15) Pick Your Own Berries

One of the summer delights of Nelson is the array of berries that are grown on nearby farms. You can purchase some from the city markets, but it’s more fun to pick your own.

We visited Berrylands in late-December and picked an array of juicy strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries and karakaberries for a reasonable price ($9 a kilo). Afterwards we rewarded our hard work with their tasty real fruit ice cream.

Berries are usually available from mid-December until the end of January. Check the Berrylands Facebook page as opening hours and availability varies.

16) Follow the Craft Beer Trail

Nelson declares itself the craft brewing capital of New Zealand.

In the centre of town there are plenty of pubs where you can sample craft beer (see below), but if you are a beer fan, it’s worth heading to the outskirts to one of the breweries.

The Nelson Craft Beer Trail stretches all the way to Motueka and Riwaka where the hops are grown.

Many of the breweries can be visited on the Great Taste Bike Trail (see below).

Simon and his friends rented bikes for half a day from Kiwi Journeys but only had time for lunch at the Honest Lawyer Pub and a tasting at McCashins Brewery in Stoke. If you have longer, you can also visit the Eddyline Brewery.

17) Picnic on Rabbit Island

Rabbit Island is a 25-minute drive from Nelson and is a popular spot with locals for picnics, barbecues, walking, cycling, and swimming.

There are trails through the pine forest and a long grey sandy beach with safe swimming in the turquoise water.

You can drive onto the island or cycle there (as we did) on the Great Taste Trail (see below).

18) Eat, Drink and Shop at Mapua Wharf

Mapua is a small town that’s connected to Rabbit Island by passenger ferry, and it makes sense to combine the two, which we did when cycling the Great Taste Trail.

The Mapua Wharf features independent cafes, shops, art galleries, and bars overlooking the estuary.

We recovered from our bike ride at the Rimu Wine Bar where you can sample a huge selection of local wines by the glass or try a tasting flight.

The service was unusually unfriendly for New Zealand, but the comfy couches made up for it. I think we must have caught them on an off-day as the reviews are usually good.

We followed it up with good craft beer and Mexican bar snacks accompanied by live music on the terrace at Golden Bear Brewery Company.

The Apple Shed Kitchen was recommended to us and has a deck over the water. Alberta’s is another popular spot for brunch with vegan and gluten-free options.

19) Cycle the Great Taste Trail

A great way to combine the previous few items on this list is to cycle part of the Great Taste Trail.

The full trail from Nelson to Kaiteriteri (the access point to Abel Tasman) is 175km (109 miles) and takes 2–6 days to complete.

We decided to cycle from Nelson to Mapua which is 32km (20 miles). We rented bikes with Kiwi Journeys who offer transport back from Mapua so we only had to cycle one way.

It costs $109 per person including the ferry to Mapua and bus back to Nelson.

Check availability for the Nelson to Mapua bike trip here.

The first section is a bit industrial, but it gets prettier the further you cycle. Along the way we stopped for a drink at McCashins Brewery, cycled past vineyards and orchards, and on boardwalks across the Waimea Estuary.

Finally, we crossed a swing bridge to Rabbit Island where we relaxed (i.e. collapsed) on the beach before cycling to the end of the island to catch the passenger ferry to Mapua Wharf.

Honestly, we don’t cycle very often and the trip was harder than we expected. It took us around three hours of cycling plus breaks.

Once we left McCashins we didn’t pass any shops and there was no shade, so on a hot day we were desperately thirsty.

If we did it again we’d get an earlier start, take more water, and rent e-bikes.

If you are interested in cycling the full trail, Kiwi Journeys and Gentle Cycling Company offer self-guided and supported trips.

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Further Afield: The Best Day Trips from Nelson

Nelson makes an excellent base for exploring the top of the South Island. For these day trips you’ll need your own vehicle or you can join a tour to most of them.

20) Cable Bay

Definitely walk up the hill from Cable Bay for this view

I fell in love with Cable Bay during our stay in Nelson and we returned a number of times including for a Christmas Day picnic. It’s one of my favourite New Zealand destinations.

It’s only a 25-minute drive from Nelson, so you visit as a half-day trip to hike, kayak, swim, or relax on the beach.

The tiny hamlet features a pebble beach on a causeway that connects to Pepin Island and separates the sea and estuary.

The Cable Bay Walkway to Glenduan is 8km (5 miles) each way but you don’t need to do the whole hike.

I do highly recommend walking up the steep hill from the beach for stunning views of the green hills and turquoise estuary.

We also loved our 3-hour kayaking trip with Cable Bay Kayaks where we explored the rock formations and caves of Pepin Island, although sadly they have now closed permanently.

Whether you walk or kayak, make sure you finish with lunch or cake at Cable Bay Cafe (summer only).

On our second visit to Nelson we even chose to stay out here—Kikorangi Retreat is a gorgeous house with stunning views of Delaware Bay and Cable Bay.

It’s one of the best places we’ve stayed in all of New Zealand. See the accommodation section below for more details.

21) Abel Tasman National Park

Mutton Cove, our favourite beach in Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman National Park is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand and you won’t want to miss it during your stay in Nelson.

The park comprises golden sand beaches, turquoise sea, and fairly easy hiking trails through native bush.

You have a good chance of seeing fur seals and a small chance of seeing dolphins (we got lucky).

Kaiteriteri is the access point to the park where you can catch a water taxi to many of the beaches.

It’s about an hour’s drive from Nelson and if you book an Abel Tasman tour, free transport from Nelson is sometimes included in the price.

We love the park so much we’ve visited six times including three Nelson day trips: for a hike in the quieter northern section, for a hike/kayak combo tour, and for a sailing trip with friends.

There are so many options whether you want to explore by boat, relax on a beach, or be more active.

See our guide to the best Abel Tasman day trips for tips on the best ways to experience the park.

22) Nelson Lakes National Park

The stunning view on the Mt Robert circuit

Nelson Lakes National Park is the northernmost section of the stunning Southern Alps. There are some fantastic hikes here to explore the rugged mountains, glacial lakes, and native forest.

The main village is St Arnaud, a 90-minute drive from Nelson. Here you’ll find the jetty at Lake Rotoiti, a popular photo spot, and easy trails along the pebble beach and into the forest.

We drove a little further to the Mt Robert car park to hike the Mt Robert Circuit.

The DOC estimated time for this 9km (6 mile) hike is 5 hours, but it only took us 3 hours including a 20-minute break. The lake views are spectacular and well worth the effort.

23) Kahurangi National Park

The third national park near Nelson is Kahurangi National Park, another stunning place for a day hike.

As New Zealand’s second-largest national park, there are plenty of access points, but the nearest to Nelson is the Flora car park which is 10km up Graham Valley Road at an elevation of 930m.

It’s a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Nelson with the last 15 minutes on an unsealed, steep and narrow road. A 4WD is recommended, especially in winter.

From the car park you could hike to Mt Arthur summit at 1795m, but this is a challenging 8-hour return hike.

A much easier option is the 1 hour 15 minute (4.2km) walk up to Mt Arthur Hut at 1310m.

The gravel path is wide and well-maintained and takes you through the forest where we saw many adorable titipounamu (rifleman), New Zealand’s smallest bird.

Make sure you continue past the hut for at least a few minutes. Above the tree line the views are incredible of endless forest-covered mountains, Tasman Bay, Nelson, and even Nelson Lakes National Park’s snowy peaks. There’s a rocky spot that’s perfect for lunch.

The incredible panorama of the surrounding mountains

If you want more of a challenge, you can hike a loop from Flora car park to Flora Hut (an easy 30-minute walk) up to Arthur Hut and down from there.

This should be a 3-hour (9km) hike, but we missed the turning at Flora Hut and added a 4km detour for ourselves.

The trail from Flora to Arthur is much tougher than we expected. The trail heads up a hill behind Flora Hut and keeps ascending through the forest—there’s no real trail but orange triangles help you find your way as you clamber over tree roots. Once you get to the top, you are rewarded with 360º views.

Despite the exhausting climb, we loved this beautiful park and highly recommend a visit.

It’s best to start early—even at 9.30am in the summer there were only a few spots left in the car park. Take warm clothes as it’s significantly cooler up here than in Nelson.

On the way back you pass through the Moutere Hills, so you could stop for a wine tasting or lunch (see above).

24) Golden Bay

Wharariki Beach

Beyond Abel Tasman is Golden Bay where there are lots of beautiful attractions.

You could visit the area on a day trip from Nelson, but it’s a 2.5 hour drive to the northernmost point, so it’s best to allocate a few days if you can.

We took a side trip for Simon’s birthday and spent two nights in a wonderful beachfront cottage at Adrift in Golden Bay.

Highlights of our trip were the wild and dramatic Wharariki Beach, the ultra clear water at Te Waikoropupu Springs, the hippy village Takaka, and hiking the quiet north section of Abel Tasman from Totaranui.

Te Waikoropupu Springs are the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand and the water is some of the clearest in the world

We enjoyed our meals at Roots Bar in Takaka (burgers and craft beer) and The Mussel Inn in Onekaka, which is a cool rustic pub serving comfort food and their own beer.

If you don’t have a car, some tour companies offer a day trip from Nelson to Golden Bay.

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Where to Eat in Nelson

Vegetarian gnocchi, asparagus, and broccoli at Arden

For dinner we love Arden, Hawker House, and Nahm.

For breakfast or lunch our favourites are Melrose House Cafe and Little Dove, or Cable Bay Cafe when we’re out there for the beach or a hike.

See my detailed guide to the best restaurants and cafes in Nelson for lots more ideas.

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Best Bars in Nelson

Kismet

A classy whisky and cocktail bar where you can relax on sofas and armchairs. There’s a huge whisky list and you can do tasting flights.

The creative cocktails are superb—the Secret Garden features absinthe, manzana verde, house-made rosemary syrup and a dramatic, smoky presentation.

The Free House

This pub is in a cute converted church and has a large family-friendly beer garden that’s popular on sunny days.

It’s a great place to sample local craft beer, but we weren’t that impressed with their Mexican food. You can also order Indian from across the road.

Sprig & Fern

This New Zealand chain has a friendly atmosphere (no TVs) and good craft beer. There are three branches in Nelson—the one on Hardy Street is most central.

Red16

If you are looking for a late-night drink, this intimate bar is one of the few decent bars open late. They serve tacos and have an open mic night on Thursdays.

Honest Lawyer Country Pub

Honest Lawyer pub

This “Olde Worlde” English-style pub has a large beer garden overlooking the Waimea Estuary a 15-minute drive (or 30-minute cycle) from central Nelson.

The pub food is decent and there are plenty of beers on tap, but you’re really here for the setting which is ideal on a sunny day, especially if you have kids.

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Accommodation in Nelson

I recommend staying just outside the centre of Nelson where you can enjoy the beautiful nature but are still within walking distance of everything.

Being close to the Maitai River is lovely or you can choose a waterfront location to be nearer to the beach (but further from the centre).

Alternatively, if you want a peaceful retreat from the city, consider staying out towards Cable Bay, a 25-minute drive from the centre.

Wakefield Quay House B & B

Our sea view from Wakefield Quay House B&B in Nelson

We spent part of our first stay in Nelson at Wakefield Quay House, an intimate but luxurious B&B on Nelson’s seafront run by the charismatic Woodi.

There are just two rooms in the weatherboard colonial villa dating back to 1906.

The sea views, happy hour drinks and nibbles, and breakfast are superb.

It’s a 30-minute walk outside of the centre and less convenient than staying in the centre of town.

If you have a car and want sea views and to be close to the beach, it’s a great option though. There are a few good restaurants a short walk away.

Kikorangi Retreat

If you are looking for a special place to stay in a quiet location, consider Kikorangi Retreat, which feels remote but is only a 20-minute drive outside of Nelson. It’s one of the best places we’ve stayed in all of New Zealand.

This beautiful house on a hill above Delaware Bay has incredible views of Cable Bay, Pepin Island, and the turquoise estuary with its dramatic tidal changes.

Friendly owner Carolyn and her family created the house with love 22 years ago when it was nothing but 10 acres of empty land and native bush.

The house is now set amongst beautiful gardens full of flowers and fruit trees as well as a vegetable patch and chicken coop—we were encouraged to help ourselves to the produce.

The terrace is the best place to enjoy the setting—from the hot tub, hammock, sitting around the fire pit, or cooking on the BBQ.

It’s so peaceful with nothing but the sound of birdsong and sheep baaing on the island across the bay.

Inside the house, big windows make the most of the views and it feels like a real home with artwork, books, CDs, a fireplace, and even a guitar. The large kitchen is well-equipped.

The living room at Kikorangi Retreat

The house feels huge, so it’s surprising there are only two proper bedrooms—we took the upstairs double with open plan ensuite and amazing views.

There is also a mezzanine workspace/bedroom, but it lacks privacy, as does the sunroom off the living room which could also sleep one or two people.

The upstairs bedroom at Kikorangi Retreat

The only downside was rather slow WiFi (and no cell service) but it was manageable. We definitely want to return for a longer stay.

Check prices and availability for Kikorangi Retreat here.

Other Options in Cable Bay

There’s a campsite or Doubtless Bay Villas look stylishly decorated with amazing terrace sea views.

Holiday Rentals

Sunset view from Airbnb studio in Nelson

There are lots of great holiday rentals in Nelson that will give you more space and the option to cook.

I recommend this well-designed light and sunny studio with views run by our friend’s mum. It’s located in beautiful gardens in a quiet part of town near the Maitai River.

The views out of the large windows are stunning, especially at sunset. You feel like you’re in the countryside, but it’s walkable to the town centre.

Other stylish, well-located holiday rentals in Nelson include this historic eco-friendly villa, Elliott Street Gem, a lovely two-bedroom house plus sleep-out.

Search for more holiday rentals in Nelson here.

Cedar Grove Motor Lodge

There are many motels in Nelson which are affordable and convenient, if unexciting, places to stay.

One of the best is Cedar Grove Motor Lodge which we stayed in for a week one Christmas. The location is ideal near to the river and only a few minutes’ walk to the centre of town.

The family who owns it are friendly and the shared laundry facilities were useful.

Our one-bedroom unit with balcony was more spacious than most motels and was modern and clean with a small kitchenette.

Book Cedar Grove Motel here.

Other Motels

Riverlodge Motel – The best of the budget motels, rooms are fairly basic but the location is great and our upstairs studio was bright with views of the hills and a balcony.

Waimarie on Riverside Motel & Apartments – We’ve also stayed at this affordable motel which has an excellent location on the river close to the centre. We found the apartments rather dark and dated, though, and there’s no river view.

Search for more Nelson accommodation here.

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How to Get to Nelson

Nelson has a domestic airport and can be reached by plane, bus, or your own vehicle.

Having a car will give you the most freedom to explore, but more than most places in New Zealand you can manage without one.

The centre is walkable and tour companies can take you further afield to the wine region and Abel Tasman.

Wellington to Nelson

To get from Wellington to Nelson you can take a very short (and scenic) flight with Air New Zealand or Sounds Air or a 3.5-hour ferry to Picton plus 2-hour drive.

We took the ferry and spent two nights in the Marlborough wine region to break up the journey, which I highly recommend.

Our North Island itinerary has some suggestions of places to visit if you are visiting both islands.

Picton to Nelson

Picton is where the ferry from Wellington arrives on the South Island. It’s a 2-hour drive from Picton to Nelson or the InterCity bus takes 2 hours 20 minutes.

If you are driving yourself, on the way stop at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve where you can do some short walks along the turquoise river and through the birdsong-filled forest. This is where the barrel scene in The Hobbit movie was filmed.

Blenheim to Nelson

Blenheim is the hub of the Marlborough wine region. To get from here to Nelson it’s a scenic 90-minute drive or a 2-hour ride on the InterCity bus.

Christchurch to Nelson

The journey from Christchurch to Nelson is quite a long one. It takes at least 5.5 hours to drive it and it’s worth breaking up the journey with a stop in Hanmer Springs (if taking the inland route) or Kaikoura (on the coastal route).

The InterCity bus takes 7.5 hours or you can take a short flight. Alternatively, the scenic Coastal Pacific train runs between Christchurch and Picton in just over five hours and you could then transfer to a bus to Nelson. The train only runs three times a week from spring to autumn.

See our guide to the East Coast of the South Island, New Zealand for suggestions on places to stop on the way.

Nelson to Punakaiki

If you want to travel further down the South Island, the West Coast is a beautiful if winding drive.

Punakaiki is a great first overnight stop with some lovely walks along the Pororari River and to see the famous Pancake Rocks.

Punakaiki is a scenic 4-hour drive from Nelson and Murchison is a good halfway point for coffee or lunch.

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When to Visit Nelson

Nelson Tasman is the sunniest region in New Zealand and can be visited year-round.

The summer (late-December to March) is the best time to visit Nelson if you want to enjoy the beaches, but expect more crowds, especially over the New Year holidays.

Our longest stay was from November to early January (late spring/early summer) and we found the weather mixed—some cool rainy days but plenty of sunny and warm days too.

Winter (June to August) is cool but often sunny with average temperatures of 12ºC (54ºF) vs 22ºC in summer.

I like that you can see snowy mountains in the distance while walking on the beach in winter and it’s a much quieter time to visit.

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Nelson New Zealand Map

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Nelson, New Zealand - Wikipedia

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Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson - Wikipedia

Nelson Tasman - Things to see and do | South Island | New Zealand

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Nelson, New Zealand: The Complete Travel Guide to Nelson [2024]

24 Best Things to Do in Nelson, New Zealand

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