Lord Nelson’s reputation as one of the greatest naval minds of the Napoleonic Era is not a modern invention. He was considered a hero during his lifetime, long before Trafalgar, to the extent that many of his personal effects “attained the status of relics” while he was alive. Many of those personal effects survive to this day and are part of the National Maritime Museum’s collection. This includes, rather morbidly, the clothing in which he died.
Rear Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
This coat was worn by Lord Nelson at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. The cuff of the right sleeve features a small black silk loop which was used to secure it to the front buttons of the lapels.
Rear Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Rear Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
The back of the collar and shoulders are stained with pomatum or pig-tail grease.
Rear Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Bicorne Hat
Worn by Lord Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen. This hat, given by Nelson to his sword cutler, Mr Salter of 73 The Strand, was displayed in the shop window with a black card cut out, which indicated where the chelengk, a gift from the Ottoman sultan, was worn.
Bicorne Hat
Vice-Admiral's Full Dress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Vice-Admiral's full dress coat belonging to Lord Nelson. The coat is of blue wool cloth with blue stand-up collar, lapels and cuffs.
Vice-Admiral's Full Dress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Vice-Admiral's Full Dress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Vice-Admiral's Full Dress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Breeches, Pattern 1795-1812
These breeches were worn by Lord Nelson when he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar. They were cut by surgeons scissors to be removed for treatment.
Vice-Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Vice-admiral's undress coat worn by Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. There is a bullet hole on the left shoulder, close to the epaulette. The damage to the epaulette itself is also apparent. There are blood stains on tails and left sleeve, which is probably that of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, killed earlier in the action.
Vice-Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Vice-Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Site of the fatal bullet's entry.
Vice-Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Nelson's four orders of chivalry - Knight of the Bath, Order of the Crescent, Order of Ferdinand & Merit and Order of St Joachim - are sewn to the front of the coat and over the edge of the lapel so that it could not be unbuttoned.
Vice-Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Vice-Admiral's Undress Coat, Pattern 1795-1812
Non-Regulation Stockings
Stockings worn by Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Nelson's laundry mark, the numeral 'II' below an 'N', underneath a coronet.
Non-Regulation Wasitcoat
Waistcoat worn by Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. The waistcoat is a non-regulation garment of white cotton marcella, woven in a diaper pattern, heavily blood stained at the left shoulder where he was mortally wounded.
Non-Regulation Wasitcoat
Non-Regulation Wasitcoat
Non-Regulation Wasitcoat
Non-Regulation Wasitcoat
Lord Nelson's Wool Flannel Undershirt
This undershirt was part of the effects returned to Lord Nelson's family after his death at Trafalgar. Though it was amongst his belongings at the time, it was not worn during the battle.
Lord Nelson's Wool Flannel Undershirt
Lord Nelson's Wool Flannel Undershirt
Right sleeve cut short and finished with a blanket stitch.
Lord Nelson's Wool Flannel Undershirt
Lord Nelson's Wool Flannel Undershirt
Lord Nelson's laundry mark, the letter N under a coronet, cross stitched at the back of the neck.
Lord Nelson's Wool Flannel Undershirt
Lord Nelson's laundry mark, the letter N under a coronet, cross stitched at the back of the neck.
Courtesy of the National Maritime Museum.
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