Nelson & His World

Alexander Ball knew Nelson as well as anyone and made this interesting comment on Nelson's inability to speak French:

'I heard Sir A. Ball mention that altho' Nelson understood French very well he would not hazard himself in it as [it was] beneath his dignity to speak imperfectly a language.'


Quoted in'Nicholas Biddle in Greece: the journals and letters of 1806.' Ed. R A McNeal, (pub. Pennsylvania State University Press, 1993)

I remember we had a discussion about this on AN (our 'mother ship') and I think I suggested then that vanity might have been at the root of Nelson's troubles with French. Mastering a foreign language requires patience as well, a virtue that Nelson, as he himself admitted, conspicuously lacked.

I am pleased to inform you,
that we have been asked by goverment of Malta, to undertake the preparation of all documentation, for the task of restoration and re-use of fort st Elmo.

I lead an architectural practice based here in Malta.
www.danda.com.mt

In the meantime as we were going through our historical research,
a friend of mine Architect Christopher Grech, associate professor at Catholic University in DC, showed me a photograph that he bought showing a burial.

The following day, I was going over, the plans that we got from Kew of the royal engineers.

It matched.
We found the exact location of Abercrombie's tomb.
matching the describtion, on the marble plaque.

We shall propose that these two gentlemen be given the respect they deserve,
and since we hope to have a museastic use nearby,
we feel it would be opportune to have a section dedicated to these heroes.

This forum is of great interest to us. we need leads and info.

I would be very grateful for any help,information leads, etc
on the lives of Sir Alexander Ball,
and Sir Raplh Abercrombie, from the esteemed members of this group.
sincerely,
Ray De Micoli,

Welcome on board Ray, great to have someone from here in Malta with a keen interest in the graves. Please feel free to contact me via E-Mail if you need information at any time and I shall be delightted to help. I have a copy of Alexander Ball's will from the National Archives

Cheers

Ray, You might find this interesting,

www.ageofnelson.org/Article03.html

Ray,

I should also like to extend a welcome.

What you say sounds like good news. You may also find this of some use, regarding Alexander Ball:

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Alexander_Ball

I would however, google around a bit more, to find other angles and to check facts. Perhaps you should also contact the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, at: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/

Kind regards,

Ray,

I also found this detailed entry on Sir Ralph Abercrombie:

http://www.electricscotland.com/history ... rralph.htm

Again it would probably be wise to get other references. Perhaps here you should contact the National Army Museum:

http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/

and the National Archives:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Kind regards,

Anyone with access to the Times On-Line Archive will find some interesting material concerning our man Ball.

Ray,

You may like to have a look at this, which I am a member.

www.1805club.org/

Hallo, this is the Chris Grech referred to by Ray Demicoli. I too am Maltese (although teaching architecture in Washington DC, USA). I have been researching into the early British period in Malta - around 1800 - 1840 although I am interested in all the British governors of Malta from 1800 to 1964!!

I periodically write articles for magazines/newspapers in Malta on the subject. I've just had one published in 'Treasures of Malta' about the Royal Regiment of Malta's little campaign in Capri in 1808.

I was fortunate to purchase the photo of Abercrombie's reinterment in 1871 and am very interested to know of any written accounts that anyone might find.

I'm also very interested in Captain Sir Graham Eden Hamond who was one of the naval officers maintaining the blockade of Valletta in 1800. He also fought at Copenhagen with Nelson in HMS Blanche. I'd be very interested to know where he's burried and whether anyone knows of any portraits of him other than Mather Brown's group portait on board HMS Charlotte on the Glorious First of June in which he is featured as a midshipman.

I look forward to corresponding with you all.

Chris

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

Have you seen this portrait by Hoppner of Sir Ralph Abercrombie?


http://www.freebase.com/view/wikipedia/ ... id/6365027

Sanders of Oxford have for sale (for £15) an engraving of him, published in 1850 by the London Print and Publishing Company, though the name of the engraver doesn't appear.

http://www.sandersofoxford.com/search?s ... bercrombie

I have access, through my library membership, to the digital archive of The Times newspaper from 1785 to 1985. A quick glance has noted some references to Sir Ralph, though nothing of great note so far; but there is an announcement in The Times of 10 November 1802 of the 'publication this day of an Historical Account of the British Expedition in Egypt by Lt Col. Robert Wilson..... embellished with a portrait of Sir Ralph Abercrombie from a picture by Hoppner.'

You are probably already familiar with this book, but if not, re-print paperback copies are available for a few pounds from www.abebooks.co.uk

Hi Chris and welcome aboard and oddly enough Greetings from Malta,
Some details on Sir Graham Eden Hamond for you which maybe of interest.
He was born on the 30th December 1779, and Christened on the 8th February 1780 at Saint Mary-St Marylebone Road, Saint Marylebone, London
His parents were Andrew Snape Hamond a Captain in the Royal Navy and his mother was Ann.
In the 1851 Census it shows him as a Baronet Admiral in the Royal Navy on half pay. Married to Elizabeth Kimber, born in 1785 in Fowey, Cornwall, England with two daughters in the household,Ann and Caroline.
The 1851 and 1861 Census show them living at 1 The Lodge, Freshwater, Hampshire, England.
Sir Graham Eden Hamonds death was on the 20th December 1862.
The District is Isle of Wight, Hampshire,Isle of Wight.
Referance for a death Certificate is Vol 2b. Page 346.
Will contact you with his burial location, but I would imagine it must be in Freshwater, Hampshire.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Again Chris,

Try contacting All Saints Church, Freshwater, Hampshire, you should get a result.

Cheers

Very hot here!

Hi Anna, Stephen,

Thanks for your help. As an academic in the USA I'm fortunate to have access to the Times archive, the Dictionary on National Biography (and much more) - I have found the Google Books Advanced Search very useful.

Can images be posted in this forum? If so I'll post the Abercrombie reburrial photo.

Chris

Hi Chris,
There is a memorial to his father Andrew Snape Hamond in Norfolk. If you want details go to the Maritime Memorials site and just enter Hamond.

Stephen

Here is a tribute to Sir Alexander Ball that appeared recently in The Times of Malta.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/vi ... governor-1