Horatio Nelson Lay

Horatio Nelson Lay (23 January 1832 – 4 May 1898, Forest Hill, Kent, England), was a British diplomat, noted for his role in the ill-fated "Lay-Osborn Flotilla" during the Taiping Rebellion.

Biography

Early life

Horatio Nelson Lay was born in Forest Hill to George Tradescant Lay, a naturalist and missionary, who served as British consul in the treaty port of Amoy in China. Lay's father inspired him to go to China, but he died in 1845 before Lay had a chance to join him.

In 1847, Lay was sent to China to study Chinese under the German linguist and missionary Karl Gützlaff. Lay's proficiency in the Chinese language soon earned him promotion in the British consular service and in 1854 he was appointed acting Vice-Consul in Shanghai. The same year, Lay took part in the founding of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service and he became the first Inspector General of the service the following year.

During the Second Opium War, Lay served as Lord Elgin's interpreter and he participated in the negotiation of the Sino-British Treaty of Tianjin. Even though Lay was not in charge of designing the actual treaty, he was instrumental in intimidating the Qing delegation into signing it despite the highly unfavorable terms to the Chinese side. Among other things, Lay humiliated the Qing representative Qiying by exposing recently captured documents, which revealed Qiying's hostility to the British. The disgraced Qiying later committed suicide.

Horatio Nelson Lay (admiral)

Horatio Nelson Lay (23 January 1903 Skagway, Alaska, USA - 1988 Perth, Ontario) was a Rear Admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Career

In 1918 he was a Naval Cadet at the Royal Naval College of Canada. In 1921 he was made a Midshipman and assigned to HMS Resolution for training. His next assignment was to HMS Cloud in 1923 for more training.

In 1924 he was sent to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and RN Barracks Portsmouth for Sub-Lieutenant courses. His next assignments were to HMCS Patrician in 1925. To HMS Tiger for big ship experience prior to torpedo course in 1927. To HMS Repulse for further experience in 1928. To HMS Vernon for Long Torpedo Officers Course in 1929. He was then made Torpedo Officer Atlantic Coast in 1930.

In 1931 he was assigned to HMCS Skeena. Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast in 1933. To HMCS Vancouver as First Lieutenant in 1934. Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast in 1937. To Royal Naval Staff course in 1938.

He became the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Gaspe from 12 January 1939 to 17 August 1939 and as Staff Officer Operations to Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast.

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté KB (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. He was noted for his inspirational leadership, superb grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics, all of which resulted in a number of decisive naval victories, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, (1797-1815). He was significantly wounded several times in combat, losing the sight of his right eye during the campaign in Corsica, and later the brutal amputation of his right arm in the unsuccessful attempt to conquer Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Atlantic's Azore Islands off northeast Africa. He was shot and killed during his final pivotal victory at the naval Battle of Trafalgar against the combined Napoleonic French and Royal Spanish fleets off the southwest coast of Spain in 1805.

Horatio Nelson (disambiguation)

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson was a British Admiral.

Horatio Nelson may also refer to:

See also

Horatio Nelson (horse)

Horatio Nelson (2003–2006) was a racehorse sired by Danehill, out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks winner Imagine. His owners were John Magnier and David Nagle. The colt won four of his seven starts, including the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at Longchamp Racecourse in October 2005. He competed in the 2006 Epsom Derby but broke down during the race and was later euthanized. He sustained a fractured cannon bone, a sesamoid bone and a dislocated fetlock joint on his right fore leg.