Lord Nelson’s last words were not “kiss me, Hardy” or “thank God I have done my duty”, as is commonly believed, according to a newly discovered account of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Instead, it is thought he said: “Thanks be to God but I have lived this day and now I die content,” moments before he succumbed to his injuries at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The claim is made by George Sievers, a master-at-arms on HMS Belleisle near Nelson’s HMS Victory.
His account comes from a letter written six days after the battle in October 1805 which saw Nelson killed as he led his forces in battle against the French and Spanish.
Sievers’ two-page letter to his Lincolnshire-based landlord Thomas Tunnard is up for auction at £1,600 until this evening.
Darren Sutherland, at Bonhams New York, said: “This provides a fascinating look at the Battle of Trafalgar.
“The accepted version of Nelson’s last words often includes ‘Kiss me, Hardy’.
“This particular construction has not been seen before and was conveyed within a week of his death.
“Although Sievers was not present on Victory, he would have picked up the story very near the event.”
The National Maritime Museum says Nelson said “Kiss me Hardy” to Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy.
Other accounts have insisted that he said “thank God I have done my duty” as it became clear in his final moments that his fleet was sure to defeat Napoleon’s forces off of the coast of Spain.
Nelson died below deck of HMS Victory after being struck by a musket ball as enemy ships launched a two-sided attack on Nelson’s ship.
The victory was a turning point in Britain’s war against Napoleon and arguably helped to establish Britain’s naval supremacy over the 19th and early 20th century.
Defeat would have allowed Napoleon to evade a British naval blockade, link up with the remainder of his fleet and potentially have conducted an invasion of mainland Britain.
HMS Victory is now a major tourist attraction in Portsmouth harbour, with the spot that Napoleon is believed to have been standing on when he was struck memorialised.