The Royal Navy of Nelson's time was such a huge organization, that it is sometimes hard to comprehend its full scope. Indeed, during the Napoleonic Wars it was by far the largest employer in the entire world.
The Royal Navy was often Britain's last line of defense and many of its most successful officers became superstars, although none eclipsed Admiral Lord Nelson, who became the personification of the navy. The whole country reveled in their successes and 'Jolly Jack Tar' became a source of national pride and a huge number of naval terms were taken into normal life and many are often still used to this very day.
Nelson's Navy in 100 Objects investigates all aspects of this incredible organization and the lives of the men who served within it, including Nelson himself, using historical artifacts and naval terms that are now part of everyday language to illustrate them.