This column was erected in 1809-1810 to pay tribute to a naval victory won by Admiral Horacio Nelson at Trafalgar in Spain. He had died four years earlier. The very "British" anglo-canadiens wanting to strengthen the English presence in the country, they had this column erected 33 years before the London one. This is the most ancient Memorial monument in Canada, the first having been erected to honor George III in 1770 but mutilated five years later.
Time has rather been hard with this monument. Inspired by the ancient Trajan column, the base presents bas-reliefs illustrating some of the Admiral battles. These bas-reliefs were made in Coade Stone, an artificial stone manufactured in England. What we see are now copies. In 1826, the monument was painted in blue to protect it from the weather. Repairs were held in 1851. Twenty years later, other alterations were made to the bas-reliefs and in 1900 new repairs had to be done. In 1978, the Nelson statue was removed and replaced two years later with a copy.
Horacio Nelson was a great naval commander. He began his career as a deck-hand and went up to become Admiral. The battle of Trafalgar in Spain was his greatest success but also his last. His fleet caught twenty-one enemy ships, sank one and captured seven thousand prisoners. But above all Nelson ensured the mastery of the seas to England. During the battle, he was fatally wounded by a bullet fired by a certain Robert Guillemard, fusilier. As he had wished to be buried instead of being thrown into the sea as was the custom, his body was put in a barrel of brandy. In Gibraltar, they moved it in a lead coffin filled with wine spirits. Nelson was therefore buried in England.
Time has rather been hard with this monument. Inspired by the ancient Trajan column, the base presents bas-reliefs illustrating some of the Admiral battles. These bas-reliefs were made in Coade Stone, an artificial stone manufactured in England. What we see are now copies. In 1826, the monument was painted in blue to protect it from the weather. Repairs were held in 1851. Twenty years later, other alterations were made to the bas-reliefs and in 1900 new repairs had to be done. In 1978, the Nelson statue was removed and replaced two years later with a copy.
Horacio Nelson was a great naval commander. He began his career as a deck-hand and went up to become Admiral. The battle of Trafalgar in Spain was his greatest success but also his last. His fleet caught twenty-one enemy ships, sank one and captured seven thousand prisoners. But above all Nelson ensured the mastery of the seas to England. During the battle, he was fatally wounded by a bullet fired by a certain Robert Guillemard, fusilier. As he had wished to be buried instead of being thrown into the sea as was the custom, his body was put in a barrel of brandy. In Gibraltar, they moved it in a lead coffin filled with wine spirits. Nelson was therefore buried in England.
