Trafalgar Square's Many People
By Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17915)
London, England
March 17, 2016 3:10pm CST
Before stalking Charles Dickens today, I went to Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column. On the base of the column are four panels showing scenes from three of his battles and the fourth is of his death on HMS Victory.
On the left of the panel, in the picture, there is a figure in the forefront of the battle and it can be seen that he is an African. He may have volunteered or been pressed into service. The Napoleonic Wars did not involve just Europeans and Brits. Men, and women, of many nations ended up serving.
One of the causes of the War of 1812, between the United States and Britain, was the Royal Navy's practise of boarding American ships and impressing anyone they thought was a British sailor.
The roles would be somewhat reversed during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy was boarding British ships looking for Southerners, and another trans-Atlantic war brifly loomed on the horizon.
For an enlarged view of the above picture
https://www.flickr.com/photos/136389881@N07/25839360146/in/dateposted-public/
7 people like this
7 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
17 Mar 16
Yes it is surprising to know that many different people made up these historical events.
Like here, a big melting pot in all manner of everything!
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@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
17 Mar 16
@Ronrybs It is a great capture you got there Ron.
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@Ronrybs (17915)
• London, England
18 Mar 16
@TiarasOceanView I'd liked to have been at the same level, but you can't have everything
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Mar 16
I find myself there every time I am in London but more for the National Gallery and the Crypt Restaurant at St Martin in the Field. Nelson's column certainly is impressive.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Mar 16
@Ronrybs It is a fun place to eat and Nell Gwynn is buried there somewhere though no one knows where.
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@Ronrybs (17915)
• London, England
19 Mar 16
@BelleStarr There's a lot of that, records get lost or just badly maintained
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Mar 16
Ah Nelson's Column. I have walked by that one a few times.
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@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Mar 16
Very informative post. I've learned something new today!
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