Happy Birthday!

Admiral Horatio Nelson

born 9/29/1758
(d10/21/1805, qv)

          Now the first thing he demands is a fiddler to his hand,
          A bottle of Nelson's Blood so stout and warm,
          And a pretty gal likewise with two dark an' rollin' eyes
          An' he'll drop his anchor an' nevermore will roam.
  
                  "Flash Gals Of The Town" From Songs of the Sea, Stan Hugill; DigTrad filename[ FLASHGAL

Rum aquired the nickname "Nelson's Blood" after Trafalgar (1805). To be buried in England, Lord Nelson's body was placed in a barrel of rum for preservation. Legend has it that when the sailor's learned of this, they fashioned straws (per C. Tawney) and drank the rum from the barrel.

There are plenty of songs directly about Nelson and his exploits and several songs about his blood. Further, there is at least one chantey and at least one group of chantey singers called "Nelson's Blood."

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Clicky