Nelson boarding a captured ship, 20 November 1777, 1806 (oil on canvas)

Creator: Richard Westall An incident during the American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. In 1777 Captain William Locker sailed to the West Indies station in the frigate 'Lowestoffe', 32 guns, with the young Horatio Nelson as his second lieutenant. They arrived at Port Royal, Jamaica, in July with a convoy of 18 sail of merchantmen. When the 'Lowestoffe' captured an American merchant ship or privateer, on 20 November, a rough sea made the first lieutenant reluctant to try to board it and take formal possession. However Nelson volunteered for the task and succeeded in boarding the prize despite the heavy sea. The painting denotes the moment that Nelson leaves the 'Lowestoffe' for the ship's boat that will take him to the captured privateer.