A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Nelson, Charles
NELSON. (Captain, 1822. f-p., 12; h-p., 30.)
Charles Nelson is second son of the Rev. Edm. Nelson, Rector of Congham, near Lynn, co. Norfolk; and cousin of the hero of the Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar.
This officer entered the Navy, 30 Sept. 1805, as Midshipman, on board the Superb 74, Capts. Rich. Goodwin Keats, Donald M‘Leod, and Sam. Jackson; in which ship he fought in the action off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806, accompanied the expedition of 1807 against Copenhagen, assisted in Aug. 1808 at the embarkation from Nyeborg of the Marquis de la Romana and his patriot troops, and passed the winter of 1808-9 at Gottenborg. In July, 1809, he was discharged into the Puissant sheerhulk at Spithead, Capt. Robt. Hall; and he was next, between March, 1810, and April, 1812, employed in the Mediterranean on board the Euryalus 36, Capts. Hon. G. H. L. Dundas and Abel Ferris, and Hibernia 120, flag-ship of Sir R. G. Keats. Receiving, then, a commission bearing date 5 Feb. 1812, he was in the course of that year appointed, again in the Mediterranean, to the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Robt. Rolles, Sparrowhawk sloop, Capt. Thos. Ball Clowes, and Union 98, Capt. B. Rolles. In the last-mentioned ship, which he left in July, 1814, he witnessed the surrender of Genoa. He attained the rank of Commander 13 June, 1815; and was lastly, from 25 June, 1819, until June, 1822, employed in the Nimrod 18, on the coast of Holland, where he made prize of two smuggling vessels. His elevation to Post-rank took place 9 Oct. 1822; and his acceptance of the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.