Edmund Nelson (priest)

Edmund Nelson (19 March 1722 – 26 April 1802) was an Anglican priest during the eighteenth century, most famous as the father of Horatio Nelson.

Nelson was born in Cambridge on 19 March 1722, one of eight children of Edmund Nelson (a priest) and Mary Bland. The Nelsons were an old Norfolk family and were moderately prosperous. Nelson was baptised on 29 March 1723 at the parish church at East Bradenham. Three of his siblings died in infancy, whilst Nelson himself had 'a weak and sickly constitution'. He was educated at a number of Norfolk schools before attending Caius College, Cambridge. He attained a bachelor's degree, followed by a Master's, after which he left to become curate at his father's church in Sporle. He then worked under Thomas Page, Rector of Beccles, and on his father's death in 1747, Nelson succeeded to the livings of Hilborough and Beccles. During his time at Beccles, Nelson met Catherine Suckling, and married her on 11 May 1749 at Beccles. Catherine was the daughter of another priest, Maurice Suckling, and her grandmother had been the sister of Robert Walpole. The family therefore became distant relations of the powerful Earls of Orford, and Catherine's immediate family, including her brother, Maurice Suckling, provided important influence that would help the Nelsons' children in their early years.

Catherine Suckling, Nelson's wife and Horatio's mother

The couple moved to Swaffham after their marriage where Catherine bore Nelson three children. Two died in infancy; a third, Maurice, survived. They then moved to Sporle, where on 12 June 1755 Catherine gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Susanna. Also in 1755 Horace Walpole offered Nelson the position of rector at Burnham Thorpe. He accepted and the two settled at the rectory. William was born on 20 April 1757, and on 29 September 1758, Catherine gave birth to Horatio, naming him after Horatio's godparent, Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford. Horatio was a sickly child, and Nelson feared he would not live long enough to be baptised at the public ceremony arranged for 15 November. Horatio was baptised at a private ceremony on 9 October.

The last of the Nelson children followed, Ann on 20 September 1760, Edmund on 4 June 1762, Suckling on 5 January 1764, and Catherine on 19 March 1767. Another boy, George, was born in 1765 but died three months later. Nelson's wife, Catherine, died on 26 December 1767, leaving him with eight children. Grief-stricken, he buried her four days later in the church at Burnham Thorpe. He never remarried. Catherine's mother, Ann, died shortly afterwards. Maurice Suckling, Nelson's brother-in-law, visited the rectory to attend the funerals, and found him heart-broken, and fearing for the future for his children. He had begun to call in favours with relatives to ensure that educations and positions could be found for them, and Suckling promised to do what he could for one of the boys, using the patronage available to him as a naval captain. Nelson himself wrote

As it has fallen to my lott to take upon me the care and affectation of double parent, they [the children] will hereafter excuse where I have fallen short and the task has been too hard.

The concern that he might fail to do the best for his children remained with him all his life. He duly decided to send William and Horatio, or Horace as the boy preferred to be known at this stage in his life, to Norwich School. Nelson eventually found suitable positions and schooling for all of his children, and when Horatio asked his father to write to Maurice Suckling and request a place for him on his ship, Nelson did so. Despite Maurice's apparent misgivings, he agreed to take Horatio into the service.

As his children left the home and went off to their new lives, Nelson remained at Burnham Thorpe. He lived a modest quiet life, but continued to follow the lives and careers of his children with interest. He had a modest income provided by his work as a parson, as well as several small investments and the legacy of his daughter Ann, who had died in 1784. In 1787, Horatio returned to England after serving in the West Indies, bringing with him his new wife, Frances Nisbet, informally known as 'Fanny'. Nelson had by this time come to prefer his seclusion, and did not look forward to the arrival of his extended family. His health was never particularly strong, and he suffered from 'paralytic and asthmatic' conditions. He took occasional trips to Bath to sample the springs. He wrote

I am not now anxious to see them. Him for a day or two I should be glad of, but to introduce a stranger to an infirm and whimsical old man, who can neither eat nor drink, nor talk, nor see, is as well let alone.

Consequently it was not until late 1788 that Horatio and his new wife arrived at the rectory at Burnham Thorpe. Horatio had spent a considerable amount of time attempting to obtain command of another ship, but finally recognised this was unlikely to occur in the near future, and bowed to Fanny's wishes to settle and start a household. Despite Nelson's initial reluctance to meet them, he found Fanny to be an enduring friend, and Horatio to be a dutiful and caring son. Nelson moved out of the rectory in 1790 to let the couple start to establish their own household. He settled in a cottage at Burnham Ulph, but made frequent visits to the couple. Nelson continued to make trips to Bath during the cold Norfolk winters, and Fanny often accompanied him while her husband was at sea. His declining health made him more and more dependent on Fanny, whilst he sought to act as her guardian while Horatio was away. The two enjoyed the pace of life at Bath, and became firm friends, with Fanny reading to him and providing companionship. Nelson wrote that

[Fanny] truly supplies a kind and watchful child over the infirmities and whimsies of age.

He soon retired, passing on the parsonage to his son, Suckling Nelson. As Horatio's fame grew, Nelson followed his son's exploits, and soon came to be accosted by well-wishers on his walks around Bath. Fanny wrote

He is grown young. These blessings in his declining days cheer him.

In 1800, with Horatio's fame continually increasing, Nelson sent Fanny to London to visit the studios of William Beechey, and to ask if Beechey might come to take a sitting. Beechey replied that he would not, as he only travelled to the sitter in the case of royalty. But then he enquired who the sitter was, and on being told it was the father of Horatio Nelson, declared 'My God! I would go to York to do it!' Nelson however remained dismayed by the breakdown of his son's marriage and wrote to Horatio on occasion to rebuke him for his neglect of Fanny. He did however visit Horatio at Merton Place, where he was living with William and Emma Hamilton.

Nelson was in declining health by early 1802. Fanny had travelled from London to be at his side, but Horatio remained at Merton Place, writing a letter stating

I have no hopes that he can recover. God's will be done. Had my father expressed a wish to see me, unwell as I am, I should have flown to Bath, but I believe it would be too late. However, should it be otherwise and he wishes to see me, no consideration shall detain me a moment.

He died later that day, 26 April 1802, at the age of 80. His son did not attend the funeral, held at Burnham Thorpe on 11 May, but did pay the funeral expenses. Nelson was described by a later biographer of Horatio as 'kind, modest and generous... to be counted on in times of trouble.' He also possessed a dry sense of humour.