Nelson's Column

Here in one of the world's most visited public squares stands a 169 foot granite column honoring Britain's greatest naval hero. Admiral Horatio Nelson commanded the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and became a legend through both his brilliance and his sacrifice. On 21 October 1805, Nelson led the British fleet to a decisive victory against the combined French and Spanish navies at the Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of Spain. The triumph secured British naval supremacy for over a century.

Yet at the moment of victory, Nelson was shot by a French sniper aboard his flagship HMS Victory. He died three hours later, his final words reportedly being "Thank God I have done my duty." The monument took nearly four decades to build. Construction began in 1840, funded largely by public donations and support from the Russian Tsar. Architect William Railton designed the Corinthian column, completed in 1843 at a cost of £47,000.

The 18 foot sandstone statue of Nelson by sculptor Edward Hodges Baily stands atop, gazing south toward the Admiralty building and the direction of Trafalgar. Four bronze relief panels at the base depict his greatest naval battles, cast from melted French cannons captured in combat. The four iconic bronze lions, each weighing seven tons, were designed by Sir Edwin Landseer and added in 1867.