A poignant first-hand account of Admiral Lord Nelson’s death has come to light 219 years later, providing an alternative version of his famous last words.
The British naval hero was fatally shot in 1805 during the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the Royal Navy triumphed over the combined forces of France and Spain.
The official account states that Nelson’s last words on his deathbed were ‘kiss me Hardy’ to Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, his flag captain.
But a letter sent by a comrade six days after the battle provides a different account.
George Sievers, master at arms on HMS Belleisle – which was second in the British column – disclosed that Nelson stayed alive long enough to ‘be informed of the extent of the glorious victory he had gained’.
Sievers said Nelson uttered the emotive final words: ‘Thanks be to God but I have lived this day and now I die content.’
The seaman also claimed that Nelson was shot twice at Trafalgar. He was allegedly shot once in the side and was carried below deck, only to insist on returning to the heat of battle, where he was fatally shot.
Sievers wrote from Gibraltar on October 27, 1805: ‘Lord Nelson in the Victory engaged the French Admiral most closely, during the heat of the action his Lordship was wounded with a grapeshot in the side and was obliged to be carried below.
A poignant first-hand account of Admiral Lord Nelson’s death has come to light 219 years later, providing an alternative version of his famous last words
The official account states that Nelson’s last words on his deathbed were ‘kiss me Hardy’ to Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, his flag captain. But a letter sent by a comrade six days after the battle provides a different account
‘Immediately on his wound being dressed he insisted again on being brought on Deck when shortly afterward he rec’d [received] a shot through his body he survived however till the evening: long enough to be informed of the capture of the French Admiral and of the extent of the glorious victory he had obtained.
‘His last words were Thanks be to God I have but lived this day and now I die content.’
Sieves wrote the two-page letter from Gibraltar to his landlord Thomas Tunnard of Lincolnshire.
He added: ‘I have the satisfaction to inform you of a most complete victory gained by our Fleet over the combined fleet of France and Spain on Monday the 21st of October.
‘When they commenced a most awful fire on us we were at first engaged by Eleven sail of the Line when we were totally dismasted they cut our Bowsprit in Pieces and dismounted a number of our Guns [and] left us a complete wreck.
‘I am happy to inform you that after three hours in this dreadful situation I had the satisfaction to see one three Decker and two seventy fours strike to the Belleisle and one Frigate we sunk and every soul on board perished in the Ocean.’
The letter has emerged for sale for £1,600 ($2,000) at auctioneers Bonhams New York.
It had remained in the Tunnard family until 2005 when it was sold to the vendor.
George Sievers, master at arms on HMS Belleisle – which was second in the British column – disclosed that Nelson uttered the emotive final words: ‘Thanks be to God but I have lived this day and now I die content’
Darren Sutherland, Bonhams senior specialist of Fine Books & Manuscripts in New York, said: ‘This seaman’s account from aboard the Belleisle provides a fascinating look at the Battle of Trafalgar, as well an important early description of the death of Nelson.
‘The accepted version of his 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 the Victory, he was on an adjacent ship and would have picked up the story very near the event.’
Locks of Nelson’s hair was removed following his death by Vice-Admiral Hardy, so it could given to his mistress Lady Emma Hamilton and friends.
The sale takes place tomorrow.