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In my Dispatch, August 2018, headed ‘Toppling Heroes’, I considered the arguments around the removal of statues erected to honour people from history and also examined the ill-informed accusations against Lord Nelson concerning his attitude to the Atlantic slave trade. While I disagree entirely with the recent claims, which position Nelson as a proactive supporter of slavery I do believe we must be fair. Nelson did support the Atlantic slave trade. It is an uncomfortable fact that goes against every other aspect of his humanity and religious faith. I realised that we had to explore the various issues involved because this accusation is about much more than the loaded phrase ‘white supremacist’ attitudes. The 1805 Club exists to preserve monuments and memorials, including those to Nelson. By honouring Nelson and his kind were we therefore also by implication supporting white supremacy?
There is not a single shred of evidence that Nelson considered white people superior to back people and in his personal dealings on land and at sea the evidence shows he treated all equally. In fact, he fought hard for the rights of individual black men who gave him good service. Maybe he could be considered naïve but it is more likely that he was being pragmatic. Nelson was certainly no white supremacist! Moreover, it is mendacious to use an inaccurate assertion to condemn him for perpetuating “tyranny, serial rape and exploitation”.
