Article: Lord Nelson's greatest inspiration; The life of Wirral's greatest good-time girl, Emma Hamilton, is inextricably bound up with Britain's towering naval genius, Lord Nelson Peter Elson reports.(News)

Byline: Peter Elson

THE HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship, was launched in spring, 1765; Emma Hamilton was born at the same time. Both Nelson's favourite ladies were exact contemporaries.

While there was no doubt of HMS Victory's future importance, Emma's start in life was far from auspicious.

Born the daughter of a Wirral blacksmith, Henry Lyon, in Swan Cottage, Ness, she was christened Emy Lyon, at St Mary's parish church, Neston.

She reinvented herself as Amy Lyon, Emly Hart, Emma Hart and finally Emma Hamilton, after marrying Britain's ambassador to Naples, Sir William Hamilton.

Her story is one of astonishing upward ...

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