The Horsell's Mouth Politics, pedantry and personal interests

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar – back in 2005, the 200th anniversary was marked with a particular fine pair of Trafalgar crowns issued by the Royal Mint, although generally it was kept quiet by the Labour government so as not upset the French or Spanish.

Trafalgar was a significant naval victory but it also marked the date of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson’s death, the manner of which ensured his place in history as a national hero and a symbol of the best exemplars of leadership and courage. By common consent, Nelson was an inspirational leader, who knew how to get the best out of the men at his command and who gained their trust to execute some very unlikely victories through unorthodox tactics.

Today we’d call him a natural leader, an influencer, an risk-taker and innovator and he would probably have been running an investment bank in the City of London. He would have been generously remunerated in advance of the banking crisis on account of him having made a great deal of money for investors. Unfortunately, his non-traditional methods would have resulted in him making some mistakes, requiring his bank to be re-capitalised at government expense.

Nelson won some great victories but also made mistakes as a commander, some of which cost lives. The bankers have kept Britain’s economy afloat for nearly 20 years but have made mistakes that have cost the nation billions of pounds.

One has a monument 150ft high in the middle of London, the other extracts ire from the most even-tempered man on the Clapham Omnibus. Yet they have more in common than you would think.

Incidentally, many members of Nelson’s illegitimate line are buried in Brookwood Cemetery. He himself is in St Paul’s Cathedral.