Admiral Horatio Nelson is one of the most revered figures in Britain’s military history. A naval genius and national hero, his leadership at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 (and throughout the Napoleonic Wars more broadly) helped to secure British dominance at sea, a power that endured for more than a century.

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But according to historian and The Rest is History podcast host Dominic Sandbrook, Nelson’s status as a uniquely exceptional commander isn’t a mystery. It’s a matter, says Sandbrook, of viewing him as a man utterly consumed by ambition, obsessed with glory, and never satisfied with his achievements.

Authors

James OsborneDigital content producer

James Osborne is a digital content producer at HistoryExtra where he writes, researches, and edits articles, while also conducting the occasional interview

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