Lord Nelson DIDN'T say 'kiss me Hardy' on his death bed: Letter sent six days after the Battle of Trafalgar reveals alternative account of hero admiral's last words
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.
It is generally believed that Nelson's last words on his deathbed were 'kiss me Hardy', which he uttered 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 hit 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.
Battle of Trafalgar: Epic sea clash that laid foundations for Britain's global power - and claimed the life of Lord Admiral Nelson
Nelson's (above) triumph at Trafalgar gave Britain control of the seas and laid the foundation for Britain's global power for more than a century
Fought on October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of history's most epic sea clashes.
Not only did it see Britain eliminate the most serious threat to security in 200 years, but it also saw the death of British naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson.
This was not before his high-risk, but acutely brave strategy won arguably the most decisive victory in the Napoleonic wars. Nelson's triumph gave Britain control of the seas and laid the foundation for Britain's global power for more than a century.
Despite signing a peace treaty in 1803, the two nations were at war and fought each other in seas around the world.
After Spain allied with France in 1804, the newly-crowned French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had enough ships to challenge Britain.
In October 1805, French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve led a Combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships from the Spanish port of Cadiz to face Nelson and Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood.
Fought on October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of history's most epic sea clashes. Not only did it see Britain eliminate the most serious threat to security in 200 years, but it also saw the death of British naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson
Nelson, fresh from chasing Villeneuve in the Caribbean, led the 27-ship fleet charge in HMS Victory, while Vice Admiral Collingwood sailed in Royal Sovereign.
Battles at sea had until then been mainly inconclusive, as to fire upon the opposing ship, each vessel had to pull up along side one another (broadside) which often resulted in equal damage.
Nelson bucked this trend by attacking the Combined Fleet line head on - and sailed perpendicular towards the fleet, exposing the British to heavy fire.
He attacked in two columns to split the Combined Fleet's line to target the flagship of Admiral Villneuve.
11. 30am Lord Nelson famously declared that 'England expects that every man will do his duty', in reference to the command that the ships were instructed to think for themselves. The captains had been briefed on the battle plan three weeks before, and were trusted to bravely act on their own initiative and adapt to changing circumstances - unlike their opponents who stuck to their command.
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood led the first column and attacked the rear of the line, and broke through.
Nelson sailed directly for the head of the Combined Fleet to dissuade them from doubling back to defend the rear. But before he reached them, he changed course to attack the middle of the line - and Villeneuve's flagship.
Speeding toward the centre of the line, HMS Victory found no space to break through as Villeneuve's flagship was being tightly followed - forcing Nelson to ram through at close quarters.
In the heat of battle, and surrounded on three sides, Nelson was fatally shot in the chest by a well-drilled French musketeer.
The Combined Fleet's vanguard finally began to come to the aid of Admiral Villeneuve, but British ships launch a counter-attack.
Admiral Villeneuve struck his colours along with many other ships in the Combined Fleet and surrendered.
4.14pm HMS Victory Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy dropped below deck to congratulate Nelson on his victory.
4.30pm With the knowledge he has secured victory, but before the battle had officially concluded, Lord Nelson died.
5.30pm French ship Achille blew up signalling the end of the battle - in all 17 Combined Fleet ships surrendered.
... so did Nelson really say 'Kiss me, Hardy' with his dying words?
By RICHARD CREASY for the Daily Mail (in an article from 2007)
It was Britain's greatest naval victory and for more than 200 years historians have analysed every detail.
Now, amazingly, a new eye-witness account of the Battle of Trafalgar has emerged during a house clear-out.
It gives not only a first-hand view of proceedings from the lower decks but also a different interpretation of one of history's most enduring arguments - Admiral Lord Nelson's dying words.
Robert Hilton was a 21-year-old surgeon's mate on HMS Swiftsure, a 74-gun ship that played its part in the destruction of the French and Spanish fleets and of Napoleon's dream of invading England.
It was 13 days later, after Swiftsure had made it through gales to Gibraltar for repairs that Hilton took up his pen and wrote a nine-page letter home on November 3, 1805.
In it he says Nelson's last words, relayed to his ship's company from Nelson's flag captain, Captain Hardy, were: 'I have then lived long enough.'
Many people believe Nelson said: 'Kiss me Hardy.'
But historians rely on his surgeon's reports that he said: 'Thank God I have done my duty.'
