A Scandal in Harrow: Illegitimate Children Part Two
Admittedly the previous posts connection to Harrow was a little thin and certainly not recalled from my own memory! However the story is an important and interesting one which serves to deepen the relationship between Harrow and Byron, one which is readily called to mind when thinking of ‘famous people’ from the area. On initial appearances the same could be said for Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson who similarly has an illegitimate child buried in Harrow, in the Pinner Parish Church Cemetery, Paines Lane to be more precise. However unlike Allegra Byron whose only connection to Harrow is her burial at St Mary’s Church, Harrow on the Hill; Horatia Nelson lived in Pinner for 22 years along with some of her children, two of which are buried with her.
This may come as a surprise to some residents as unlike Byron, Nelson is hardly ever associated with Harrow and has not become part of local folklore like people such as Byron or Winston Churchill, Old Harrovians, Harrow School boys whom locals have over the years adopted as their own.
Yet when looking back on Horatia’s life and the affair of her parents it is of little surprise that she remains almost unknown, there is even evidence to suggest she would have wanted the same. Horatia Nelson Thompson was born on the 29th January 1801 to Lady Emma Hamilton and Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, a love child of the most scandalous affair of the time and one that still holds much interest.
The term ‘national hero’ is readily associated with Nelson, he is most known for his naval successes in the battles of the Nile, Copenhagen and especially Trafalgar. Under Nelson’s command aboard HMS Victory the French and Spanish Navy were defeated, confirming British Naval supremacy. As famous as the victory and as decisive in shaping the outcome of the Napoleonic War was Nelson’s death after being shot during the Battle of Trafalgar, among his last words “Kiss me Hardy” and “Thank god I have done my duty” are well remembered.
Much of his naval success are credited with his challenge of traditional strategies, choosing instead to lead from the front steering straight into the enemy line rather than bombarding enemy ships at a single point from afar. By creating an ‘inner circle’ with Captains and Senior Officers of other ships in the fleet Nelson was able to ensure that all knew the exact battle plans removing the need to rely on messages and signals which were unreliable during battle. Letters and communication to and from Nelson also reveal his care and concern for members of his crew displaying a personal interest in individuals, their health and well-being and the ability to engage with any particular needs or problems.
Of course this is only a very brief overview of his naval career which barely scratches its surface. While popular memory of him immediately reverts to his naval success, his personal life is also becoming more recognised and widely remembered. On 11th March 1787 he married Frances ‘Fanny’ Nisbet, yet his personal life is more closely associated with Emma Hamilton whom he met in 1793 and become involved in an illustrious and very public love affair. While extramarital affairs were not uncommon at the time, especially of men of elevated social positions, it was incredibly scandalous to carry out such an affair so publically. Creating even more of a scandal when Nelson and Emma Hamilton began to live together and Nelson cut off all ties from his estranged wife Fanny who would not see her husband for 5 years before his death.
Lady Emma Hamilton first met Nelson in September 1793 when he arrived in Naples, yet prior to their meeting Emma Hamilton had already lived an eventful life. She is described by biographer Kate Williams as a “Model, courtesan, dancer, fashion icon, actress, double agent, political hostess, mother, ambassador and hero’s mistress” whose life and rise to fame is made even more remarkable as she was born into poverty into a mining community called Ness on the Wirral peninsular in Cheshire.
Emma’s initial rise to fame and fortune was aided by Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh who became her protector whilst she was working in London as a prostitute after failing attempts to make it as an actress. Prostitution was not uncommon for young girls like Emma who had recently moved to the city without male relations; during the late 18th Century 1 in 8 of all London’s adult female workers were prostitutes. Sir Harry met Emma while she was working for Madame Kelly who ran a glamorous brothel in Piccadilly, he then hired her as a hostess for his country estate Uppark. Her role was to entertain and host his guests, serve dinner, dance and smile something which came naturally to the beautiful, charming and driven Emma; she soon became Sir Harry’s mistress. During her time at Uppark Emma became friends with Charles Greville the second son of the Earl of Warwick and MP for Warwick.
In 1781 Emma fell pregnant with her first child, fathered by Sir Harry, who did not take the news well and practically abandoned her. Almost immediately after the birth of her first child, Emma Carew, the baby was taken from her to be raised by another family in the North. Emma then became the mistress of Charles Greville who was incredibly possessive of her, even instructing her to change her name to Emma Hart. In keeping with the attitudes and expectations of women at the time, whilst with Greville, Emma transformed herself into the image of prudence and modesty relinquishing vanity and becoming accomplished young lady. While Greville was happy with his ‘project’ and Emma was offered security, biographer Kate Williams notes how most of all Greville wanted to make money out of her through an ambition that images of her should be admired.
This ambition led Emma to the artist George Romney which would catapult her into high society with fame and recognition. She first sat for him in 1782 when she was 17 where her early training in dance and posture served her well. One of the first paintings ‘Sensibility’ was so popular it was produced into prints and displayed all over London. Williams describes how her “acute awareness of the effect of her own image gave her an understanding of Romney’s ambition” so much so she became his muse and Romney produced about 60 portraits, hundreds of canvases and many sketches of Emma.
The popularity of the paintings saw society place much interest in Emma and her appearance in the paintings also began to influence fashions. However Greville disliked being known as her lover and was keen to impress his uncle, Sir William Hamilton who was newly widowed, wealthy and visiting London. During his visit in 1783 Sir William was immediately taken by Emma. By 1785 Greville began plans to send Emma to Naples to be ‘with’ Sir William as he had grown bored of her and was planning on marrying into some money, yet felt he could not abandon Emma.
Remembering Harrow 