Nelson: The Essential Hero by Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford Page A

you will beat him’ was one of Captain Locker’s laconic injunctions to his young officer (one he would never forget), and it was probably with this in mind that Nelson’s ‘active’ nature prompted him to seek something more adventurous than a frigate on station duty. He was given command of a schooner, the Little Lucy, a tender to the Lowestoffe and named after Locker’s first-born child. He had earned this early command. On the Lowestoffe ’s second cruise out of Port Royal in November she came up with an American privateer. The weather was bad, a heavy sea running, and when the time came to board the prize the First Lieutenant, whose prerogative it was to lead the boarding party, was an unconscionably long time below putting on his sword. The ship’s boat lying alongside was in danger of filling and the irate Locker bawled down: ‘Have I no officer who can board the prize ?’ The Master of the Lowestoffe was making his way to the gangway when Nelson turned him back with the words, ‘It is my turn now.’ The boat reached the American vessel which was lying half waterlogged, having practically driven herself under in her efforts to escape. Nelson and his men - like many a lifeboat’s crew in later years - had the harrowing experience of going in on a roller, clean over the deck, and out on the other side. Finally they got aboard and the prize was taken, but in the thick weather and spindrift-seas they lost contact with the Lowestoffe. Yet, despite everything, the young lieutenant managed to get his prize safe back to port. In ‘Daddy’ Locker’s eyes his protege had proved himself worthy of the trust that was now to put him in charge of the Little Lucy.
    His first command. . . . He, who would order great fleets in action, when cumulus clouds of sails covered the horizon, now knew the instant joy of having beneath his feet a schooner whose every rope and pitch-line of deck, tarred lanyard, wooden dead-eye, and square foot of sail came within his immediate vision and control. How well he remembered it! ‘In this vessel I made myself a complete pilot for all the passages through the Islands situated on the north side of Hispaniola.’ The words ring back to Drake. Though centuries separated the two men there was something very similar about them. Both were the sons of clergymen, both first learned the trade of the sea in small boats on the east coast, and saw in their country’s enemy an almost personal foe whom they detested. Drake in his staunch Protestantism had seen Philip II as anti-Christ, and Nelson was to regard Napoleon as the embodiment of evil in the shape of revolutionary, atheist France.
    In 1778 Sir Peter Parker arrived in Jamaica as Commander-in-Chief. Nelson was warmly recommended to him by Captain Locker, with the result that Sir Peter took Nelson into his flagship Bristol as Third Lieutenant. Within the year he had risen to be First Lieutenant, and on 8 December 1778 he was promoted to be Commander of the brig Badger. War with France had begun, the West Indies station was already an active one in view of the American Revolution, and Nelson’s rise - though rapid - was somewhat predictable, particularly in view of the fact that not only Captain Locker, but also the new Commander-in-Chief and his formidable wife Lady Parker, had all taken to Horatio. Influence counted, but it is clear that there was a great deal more to it than that. His last promotion in this year occurred after Maurice Suckling had died - leaving a will in which all his nephews were to inherit five hundred pounds, and his nieces one thousand. The rich and childless Comptroller had been a kind promoter of the young Nelson; had indeed launched him in no mean way on a career in which he was to repay his uncle a thousandfold. But his influence died with him, and it was to Admiral Parker’s credit that he promoted Nelson entirely on his own judgement.
    Nelson’s first job in command was to ‘protect the Mosquito shore and the