The 1805 Club was founded in 1990 to accomplish three objectives. To assist in the preservation of monuments and memorials relating to Vice- Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson and seafarers of the Georgian era. To promote research into the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

of the

Georgian period The Georgian era was a period in British history from 1714 to , named after the Hanoverian Kings George I, George II, George III and George IV. The definition of the Georgian era is often extended to include the relatively short reign of Will ...

, and especially of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson. To organize cultural and historical events. 1805 originates from the year of the

Battle of Trafalgar The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (180 ...

, 21 October 1805. Club chairman since 2019 is Gerald W (Bill) White. The club is a registered charity number 1071871 in England & Wales.

Restoration efforts

The club restored the imposing churchyard memorial of Admiral Home Popham at St Michael and All Angels Church, Sunninghill, Berkshire, in 1999. In the same year it restored the tomb of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith in

Père Lachaise Cemetery Père Lachaise Cemetery (french: Cimetière du Père-Lachaise ; formerly , "East Cemetery") is the largest cemetery in Paris, France (). With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Notable figure ...

, Paris. In 2006 it was reported that the 1805 club restored the grave of Capt

Edward Berry Rear Admiral Sir Edward Berry, 1st Baronet, KCB (17 April 1768 – 13 February 1831) was an officer in Britain's Royal Navy primarily known for his role as flag captain of Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson's ship HMS ''Vanguard'' at the Battle of ...

, buried at St Swithin's Church in Walcot as part of their Trafalgar Captains' Memorial Project. In 2008, it was reported that the 1805 club restored the grave of Capt

John Richards Lapenotière Captain John Richards Lapenotière (1770 – 19 January 1834) was a British Royal Navy officer who, as a lieutenant commanding the tiny topsail schooner HMS ''Pickle'', observed the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, participated in the resc ...

RN, at Menheniot Parish Church near

Liskeard Liskeard ( ; kw, Lyskerrys) is a small ancient stannary and market town in south-east Cornwall, South West England. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Plymouth, west of the Devon border, and 12 miles (20 km) eas ...

. The club also recorded the graves of all the British commanding officers at Trafalgar and raised funds to repair seven that were found to be in poor condition. The 1805 club documented the graves in their book, ''The Trafalgar Captains: Their Lives and Memorials.''

Cultural events

According to

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

, the club conducted a 200th anniversary memorial service at the tomb of Lord Nelson. Senior members of the Royal Navy, the Sea Cadets and HMS Victory's Cutter Crew were in attendance. The club vice-president, Mrs Anna Tribe, a 3rd great-granddaughter of

Lord Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought a ...

and Lady

Emma Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), generally known as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy me ...

, laid a wreath at Nelson's tomb during the service. The 1805 Club is also the official custodian of

The Trafalgar Way The Trafalgar Way is the name given to the historic route used to carry dispatches with the news of the Battle of Trafalgar overland from Falmouth to the Admiralty in London. The first messenger in November 1805 was Lieutenant John Richards Lapeno ...

from Falmouth to the Old Admiralty in London and has recently been awarded Libor funds by the Chancellor to further its activities.

Publications

The 1805 Club maintains a website with historical information about the Royal Navy and other state and merchant navies during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and concentrating on Lord Nelson and his fellow seamen, including a list of over seventy links to other Naval research databases. The 1805 Club also publishes the following: * ''Trafalgar Chronicle,'' its annual maritime history journal, currently edited by Dr. Judith Pearson, Dr. Sean Heuvel and Captain John Rodgaard USN(Rtd). Issued free to members, or may be purchased by non-members. * ''The Kedge Anchor'', its twice-yearly printed magazine, issued free to members. * ''The 1805 Dispatches'', a regular digital newsletter, available to anybody interested, via The 1805 Club website. The 1805 Club has also published monographs, including: * ''Nelson and the Campaign in Corsica'', by Tom Pocock. * ''The Battle of Cape St Vincent'', by Colin White. * ''Nelson and Tenerife 1797'', by Agustin Guimera. * ''The Miller Papers'', by Kirstie Buckland. * ''Touch and Take: The Battle of Trafalgar 21 October 1805'', by Michael Duffy. * ''The Trafalgar Captains: Their Lives and Memorials,'' by Colin White, leader of a team of 1805 club writers.

References

{{reflist

External sources

The 1805 Club Website

Admiral Lord Nelson Home Page
Maritime history of the United Kingdom History organisations based in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1990 Naval history * Historical societies of the United Kingdom 1990 establishments in the United Kingdom

Restoration efforts

Cultural events

Publications

See also

References

External sources