Celebrating the ‘Nelson touch’
CORRESPONDENCE from a surgeon serving with Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson gives a unique glimpse into the life of the charismatic English hero and his ship, HMS Victory.
The letter from Leonard Gillespie MD, RN, to his sister in Ireland was written in January 1805 - months before the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21.
And while the doctor had left the ship before the battle through ill health, he would attend the Nelson’s funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral on January 9, 1806.
Gillespie, who served as Physician to Nelson’s Fleet, is a distant relation of Javea resident John Deacon, who in 1997 donated a copy of the letter to HMS Victory in Portsmouth.
And a portrait of the physician by Charles Louis Bazin was painted in Paris in 1837 - it also features the Victory. Gillespie had made his home in the French capital after the peace of 1815 - he died in London aged 84 but was buried in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery.
“I am at present fully established in my office as Physician to this fleet, which is (thank God) in the best possible order as to health, discipline, spirits and disposition towards our gallant and revered commander, Lord Nelson,” he wrote at sea, off Sardinia on January 7, 1805.
He wrote he was on a salary of £465 per annum and was able to live 'in princely style' fee of expense.
“This exemption from expenses arises from my having the honour of forming one of the suite and family of Lord Nelson, whose noble frankness of manner, freedom from vain formality and pomp (so necessary to the decoration of empty little great men), can only be equalled by the unexampled glory of his naval career and the watchful and persevering diligence with which he commands the fleet.”
He said he was immediately welcomed as a member of the family as the ship 'one of the largest in the navy' sailed off Corsica and Sardinia.
Cabin
Gillespie described a typical day; breakfasting in the Admiral’s cabin on 'tea, hot rolls, toast, cold tongue etc' before working from 7am until 2pm.
Dinner followed a drum beating a tune called 'the Roast Beef of Old England', served at 3pm and generally consisted of three courses and a dessert of 'the choicest fruit', together with 'three or four of the best wines, champagne and claret' - the meal finishing with coffee and liqueurs at 4.30pm or 5pm.
Tea followed at 7pm; “and as we are inclined, the party continue to converse with his lordship who at this time generally unbends himself, although he is at all times as free from stiffness and pomp as a regard to proper dignity will admit, and is very communicative.
“At eight o’clock a rummer of punch, with cake or biscuit, is served up, soon after which we wish the Admiral a good night, who is generally in bed before nine o’clock.”
Gillespie, not accustomed to going to bed so early, said he would spend an hour reading or with one of the ship’s officers.
“Such, my dear sister, is the journal of a day at sea in fine or at least moderate weather, in which this floating castle goes through the water with the greatest imaginable steadiness.”
Gillespie qualified as a surgeon and joined the Royal Navy in June 1977, serving on HMS Royal Oak as second assistant surgeon - on 1783 after the peace of Versailles he was discharged from the navy with a considerable sum in prize money and continued to study medicine. When was again declared between England and France on February 1, 1793, he rejoined the service.
His time on the Victory ended when he resigned and took extended leave in London, in August 18, 1805.
The time was spent in a fruitless chase of the French fleet which kept returning to the safety of port.
It was thought Gillespie had concerns for his own health and left before a major battle and its 'brutal' surgery. However, he did urge Lord Nelson to rest more and look after himself - by the battle of Trafalgar, it was said the commander was in vigorous good health.