Royal Naval uniform: pattern 1795-1812

Vice-Admiral's full dress coat belonging to Lord Nelson. The coat is of blue wool cloth with blue stand-up collar, lapels and cuffs. The collar, lapels and skirts are edged with gold lace. The buttonholes on the lapels, cuffs and pockets are also edged in gold lace. The pocket flaps and pockets themselves are edged in gold lace as are each of the skirts. There are three faux buttonholes on either side of the central back vent that are also outlined with gold lace. The front, tail and collar of the coat are lined with twill-woven cream silk. The left sleeve is lined with white linen while the right sleeve is unlined. The left sleeve, which would have been quite tight, has a small slit in the cuff. Conversely, there is no slit in the right sleeve and there are the remnants of a black silk loop at the end of the right sleeve. On the shoulders of both sleeves are narrow braids made of overstitched blue thread and, closer to the collar, on each side, are two small brass buttons. These were the means for attaching epaulettes that had been introduced in 1795. The coat has two hook and eye fastenings in the front. Nelson's orders of chivalry are sewn to the left hand front of the coat.

Object Details

ID: UNI0023
Collection: Textiles; Uniforms
Type: Full dress coat
Display location: Display - Nelson, Navy, Nation Gallery
Creator: Firmin & Sons Limited
Vessels: Royal Naval uniform regulations 1795-1812: Flag Officers (full dress)
Date made: before 1805
People: Nelson, Horatio; McArthur, Josephine Maude Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 1150 x 610 mm