In this episode of 'The Rest Is History,' hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delve into the early life and career of Horatio Nelson, Britain’s greatest naval commander. They discuss Nelson's character development shaped by his upbringing in Norfolk, his adventurous early career beginning at the age of 12, and his rise through the Royal Navy despite personal challenges like illness and family ties. Key themes include his principle of duty, military strategies, and the paradox of his lack of engagement with abolitionist movements despite the socio-political context of his time. The narrative highlights his naval triumphs that would ultimately secure British maritime dominance.