The path to high society is the story of Lady Hamilton. The tragedy of the courtesans. Lady Hamilton is the admiral's angel. See what "Hamilton, Emma" is in other dictionaries

Precious stones themselves do not give light, but a ray of the sun accidentally fell on them makes them play with all the colors of the rainbow. There is some secret in precious stones, some hidden rays of their own. A cobblestone will not shine, even if a whole stream of sunlight is poured on it. A precious stone that has its own secret and its own rays was Lady Hamilton. She came out of the darkness, sparkled while the sun shone over her, and with its setting she again plunged into darkness. She did not create her own happiness or her misfortunes. All her life she followed the counselor. Greville, Hamilton, Nelson ... When the last one died, Lady Hamilton also left the stage. Information about Lady Hamilton's childhood is very unclear and reliable. It is more or less established that she was born in one of the remote counties of England, in a small village. Her father was a nobleman Henry Lyon. Henry Lyon did not have tender feelings for his daughter, and soon after her birth he left her with her mother. He did not even recognize Emma (the future Lady Hamilton) as his daughter, which is why she never bore his last name. Mother and daughter were united by the most tender love, and throughout her life, Emma almost never, except in cases of emergency, was not separated from her mother. Abandoned by her father, Emma remained in the arms of her mother, a simple peasant by birth, but efficient and firm, whose clear mind was never clouded by failures, not blinded by her daughter's brilliant career. Once alone with the child, Mary Lyon settled near her parents in Howarden and became live by day work. When Emma was six years old, she began to accustom her to work. At first, Emma carried small bags of coal on a donkey through the streets of Howarden and herded sheep, and at the age of 10 she became a nanny. Emma's owner, Mistress Thomas, became attached to little Emma and tried her best to develop her mind and abilities. To her chagrin, Mistress Thomas soon noticed that this task, if not impossible, then very difficult. Emma had neither ability nor diligence. Her favorite pastime was running around the fields with her peers. Despite her noisy, obstinate and lazy nature, Mistress Thomas loved her very much. When Mary Lyon found her daughter a better position in. London and decided to send her there, Mistress Thomas and Emma were very upset by the separation, and long time there was a most tender correspondence between them.

In London, Emma quickly loses her job as a nanny and remains on the street, left to herself in search of a piece of bread. Chasing a job, she changes many occupations, but each time unsuccessfully, and more and more despair seizes her. Finally, she gets a job as a saleswoman in a jewelry store. Among the customers of this store was a certain Arabella Kelly, a lady of dubious reputation. Arabella took notice of the pretty Emma, ​​and the latter soon became her companion. Here she meets her countryman, a sailor from Howarden. He gets into a bad story, and she turns to his boss, who can help him out. He agrees, but at the cost of her innocence. After some hesitation, Emma agrees. It was her first connection.

Soon she felt pregnant. Long before the birth of the child, her lover left her. In her last despair, Emma turns to her mother. She comes and takes away from Emma her daughter, named after her mother, also Emma.

No matter how sad this event was, but thanks to him, Emma realized that she was beautiful.

Soon after her illness, she takes part in the sessions of Dr. Graham.

Dr. Graham was a charlatan magnetizer, then in great fashion in London. He was very educated and studied magnetism in Paris with Mesmer. Returning to London, he gave fascinating lectures on eternal youth, sold talismans and medicines. Emma posed for him under the guise of Hebe-Vestina, the goddess of beauty and health. Lying naked on the so-called "heavenly bed", she was supposed to reawaken the exhausted love energy in the audience. Here her vanity could be fully satisfied. All London society bowed before the beauty of her body. Here the artists Reinold and Gainsborough first saw and appreciated her, and Romney was forever captivated by her beauty.

From here she goes, as a model, to Romney's workshop, where he paints Circe from her and admires her mimic talent. Inspired by him, she thinks of going on stage. But Sheridan, after listening to her recitation, says that she is not fit for the stage.

From the workshop of Romney, she goes to the maintenance of the baronet Sir Harry Featherston, lives with him for 6 months the life of a first-class lady of the demi-monde, spending crazy money on pleasures and outfits, and abandoned by him returns to Howarden.

She was in London for only 2 years. She left Howarden an inexperienced child, and returned there a woman who had experienced a lot and had seen a lot. In a small place like Howarden, Emma's arrival was an event that everyone everywhere was talking about. Even earlier, her child, brought by her mother, was the subject of talk. Now she herself, with a few of her outfits that survived, was met with universal condemnation. Everywhere she was made aware of the ambiguity of her position, and the doors of the virtuous people of Howarden were closed to her. In desperation, she writes 7 letters, one after the other, to Sir Harry, but there is no answer. Then she addresses an imploring letter to Sir Carl Greville, whom she met in Lately his stay in London. Greville had already helped her once, by giving her some money for the journey to Howarden, and she hoped that he would help her there too. Greville liked her, but, as a reasonable man, he was afraid to show his feelings and thus bind himself in advance. In response to her pleas for help, he writes to her coldly and judiciously. He calls her to London under the condition that she renounce all her former acquaintances and leave the child in Howarden, and allows her to maintain relations only with her mother.

Greville needed a submissive and modest mistress who did not require large expenses which he did not want and could not do.

After receiving Greville's letter, Emma moves to London without delay. Here Greville once again conducts a dry conversation with her about his conditions. Emma at that moment saw in Greville her only hope and salvation. She not only agreed to all his conditions, but was also grateful for them.

Now Emma settles on the outskirts of the city, in a modest house, which Greville, a fine connoisseur of art, however, managed to arrange with great taste. Emma had to live here quietly and alone, learning spelling, literature, singing and music. Her mother Mrs. Kidd, as she called herself now, took Greville in charge of the household. Emma was nowhere, and apart from a few of Greville's acquaintances, grave and stiff gentlemen, no one appeared in her little house.

Despite this, for her modest but calm life, Emma felt infinite gratitude to Greville. It seemed that nothing could disturb the serenity and silence that surrounded Emma. She never made an attempt to get out of obedience, and her rebellious soul, apparently, was forever pacified. Only once, when Greville took her out to a grand celebration, Emma, ​​finding herself in the midst of noise, music, brilliance and illumination, was infected by the general mood and suddenly, jumping up on a chair, began to sing in her pleasant ringing voice.

The crowd at first protested against such a sudden performance, then, subdued by her amazing appearance, burst into a storm of applause. Emma, ​​intoxicated with success, sang louder and more beautifully. This joy almost cost her a break with Greville, outraged by her antics, and Emma had to shed many tears in order to beg his forgiveness.

After that, she again became unassuming and submissive. Her only amusement was visiting Romney's workshop twice a week. The artist was still faithful to her, she was still his favorite model, and he painted her endlessly. Twenty-four completed portraits and an infinite number of sketches, studies ... Nothing has ever overshadowed them good relations. She was his "inspiration", as he called her, she called him her "father". She was taken to the workshop and back by a carriage, she rarely appeared on the street alone, and in most cases she was accompanied by her mother.

Greville's uncle, the English envoy in Naples, Lord Hamilton, returned to London. He was an athlete, a cheerful and intelligent interlocutor, a dancer, a singer, a violinist and an archaeologist.

Appearing at Greville and meeting Emma, ​​Hamilton was struck by her beauty and after a while decided, with Greville's permission, to give her some information on art. He soon became engrossed in his role as a teacher; lessons become more and more frequent, and the house on Edgware Roo becomes his favorite haunt.

As for Greville, he was very pleased with the attention his uncle showed Emma. In this he foresaw a convenient way out. Greville's money, despite an economical lifestyle, was coming to an end, and he was already thinking how easy and simple it would be for him to part with Emma and improve his affairs with an advantageous marriage. How Emma would react to this, he did not care at all.

First, Greville convinces Emma to leave London for the summer. Emma, ​​unaware that this is the end, travels with her mother to Chester. On the way, she stops at Howarden and takes her daughter with her from there.

From Chester, she writes letters to Greville full of love, humility and tenderness.

“With what impatience I sit down to write, waiting for the postman. I'll probably get a letter today. Could you, my dear Greville - no, it's impossible to forget your poor Emma already ... I constantly think about you and reach the point that I think I hear and see you. Think, Greville, what a self-deception it is when I am so abandoned and there is no news of you ... Have you forgotten, as you told me when you left, that you would be so happy to see me again ... Oh, Greville, think of the number of days, weeks and years, which we may still have. One line from you will make me happy…”

Uncle and nephew acted in concert, hiding the truth from Emma. Barely returning to Greville, Emma receives an invitation from Lord Hamilton to come and visit him in Naples. Anticipating some new events unknown to her, Emma hesitates to accept this flattering invitation, but at the insistence of Greville, she accepts.

Emma arrives in Naples with her mother. Lord Hamilton received and treated them with as much attention as if they were ladies from the highest English aristocracy.

“You cannot imagine,” writes Emma Greville, “how kind Sir William is to me. He does his best to make me happy. He never dine out. In truth, since my arrival, he leaves me no more often than my shadow. He has breakfast, lunch and dinner with me, always sits next to me, looking at me, I can’t move my hand, side, or leg so that he doesn’t immediately notice how graceful and beautiful, in his opinion, my movements. Really, I'm angry that I can't make him happy. I can only be polite and kind. And really, I'm as nice to him as I can be. But I am yours, Greville. To you alone can I belong, and no one will take your place in my heart.

Greville saw from Emma's letters that if he did not act decisively, Emma would reappear in London. And since this was highly undesirable to him, he writes a letter to her, where, with extraordinary cynicism, he advises her to become Lord Hamilton's mistress, and for his part offers her friendship and companionship.

Emma, ​​who loved him, was deeply outraged by this cynical advice. Her answer is full of indignation, but at the same time this is the last desperate attempt to win back Greville.

“... It is you who advise me... Nothing can express my despair. I'm just going crazy. You, Greville, give me such advice. You who used to be jealous of me for one smile. With what cold indifference you advise me to go to ... Sir William. Oh, this is the worst. If I were near you, I would kill you and myself ... "

And at the end of that letter, in a postscript, she writes:

“…You don't know my power here. Only I will never become a mistress. If you take me to extremes, I will marry him to myself.

True, Greville smiled as he read this threat. But Emma at this time was no longer the former timid and submissive mistress, whom he closed in the narrow framework of philistine life. Ambitious dreams were already swarming in her soul.

And now, having survived many minutes of despair and offended pride, having thought over all the ways of revenge, Emma decides to fulfill her last threat - to marry Lord Hamilton to herself. Since the autumn of 1786, she left her apartment and, to the great joy of Lord Hamilton, settled in the embassy palace. Here at that time Goethe saw her and admired her.

“Lord Hamilton, who is still here as an English envoy, after a long study of art and many years of observation of nature, found the perfect combination of nature and art in a beautiful young girl. He took her to him. She is an Englishwoman in her twenties. She is very beautiful and very well built. He made her a Greek costume that suits her amazingly. With her hair down, taking two shawls, she changes her postures, gestures, expressions so much that in the end you think that this is just a dream. What thousands of artists would be happy to achieve - here you see embodied in movement, with an exciting variety. On her knees, standing, sitting, lying, serious, sad, playful, enthusiastic, penitent, captivating, threatening, anxious ... One expression follows another and follows from it. She knows how to give the folds of the dress for each movement and change them, make a hundred different headdresses from the same fabric. This is how Goethe described Emma.

The Comtesse de Boigne, in her memoirs, says of her:

“Others tried to imitate the talent of this woman; I don't think they succeeded. This is a thing in which there is only one step to the ridiculous. In addition, in order to have her success, you must first of all be flawlessly beautiful from head to toe, and you rarely meet such people.

Less than a year later, Emma was finally accepted in Neapolitan society. She carries herself so skillfully and tactfully that the king of Neapolitan says: "The Neapolitan ladies would do well if they took an example from her."

Soon Emma's threat became a fact. On September 6, 1791, she is married in London to Lord Hamilton. On the day of the wedding, she stopped by Romney's workshop for the last time. During this visit, he sketched her portrait, which he later called "The Messenger". Emma sadly left her old friend. For Romney, the separation was even more difficult, the one with which his art was so closely connected left him forever. With the departure of Emma, ​​the last ray of the sun, which illuminated his old age, leaves the life of Romney.

How dear Emma was to Romney can be seen from his letter to a friend:

“Kasandra (Emma) returned to town on the 16th, but I only saw her on the 20th. You imagine what I have suffered. She decided to pose on the 23rd and since then she has posed all the days ... When she appeared in my studio, she seemed to me more tender than the last time ... Now it seems to me that she is more cordial to me than ever. She regrets leaving England without seeing you. I am extremely grateful to you for your sympathy. Indeed, my soul suffered so much that it was reflected in my health, and I was afraid that I would not be able to write more from her, but since she is still kind to me, I have completely recovered both in body and spirit ... "6 September Emma saw Romney for the last time. They never met again.

The day after the wedding, Lord and Lady Hamilton left for Naples. On the way they stopped in Paris, thinking of staying there for a while. But the impending thunderstorm of the revolution forced them to leave it soon. They managed, however, to get into the palace, and Marie Antoinette, who was already under strict supervision, secretly hands Emma a letter to her sister, the Neapolitan Queen Maria Carolina. For Emma, ​​this letter was big happiness. It opened the doors of the Naples Palace for her.

Upon arrival in Naples, she hands a letter to Maria Carolina, and from that day their friendship begins.

In this happy time of her life, Emma is true to her past. Her mother is inseparable from her, and she writes tender letters to Greville and Romney.

“Indeed,” she writes to Greville, “if we stay here, it is only because I promised the queen not to leave her until her departure.” And then she says, “I spent the evening with the queen alone, laughing, singing, etc. But during the reception, I kept my place and showed the queen such respect as if I were seeing her for the first time. She liked it very much. ” At the end, Emma talks about her personal life “You can’t imagine how happy dear Sir William is. Right, you you cannot understand our happiness, it is indescribable, we are not separated for an hour all day. We live like lovers, and not like husband and wife, especially if you think about how modern spouses treat each other .. "

During this period of Lady Hamilton's life, Horatio Nelson appears on her horizon, small man with clear, open eyes and an authoritative, all-conquering voice Two passions owned this man - hatred for France and boundless love for his homeland.

From the first appearance of Nelson in Naples, friendly relations were established between Emma and him, they were united by a patriotic feeling.

Emma at that time was no longer only a friend of Mary Carolina, she was an attorney for all her affairs and her closest confidante. From the very beginning of the French Revolution English influence was very strong at the Neapolitan palace. When the formidable shadow of Bonaparte appeared on the horizon, Naples could only expect salvation from him from England.

And Emma became the mediator between Naples and England. At first she seemed to be afraid of this, but soon, encouraged by Queen Maria Carolina, she brilliantly entered her role. She transmits secret letters, writes them together with the queen.

“I did not have time to write to you, as we have been writing important letters for three days and three nights, which we sent today by courier to our government,” she writes to Greville. England sent Horatio Nelson to defend Naples from Bonaparte.

Since that time, the fate of Emma is forever intertwined with the fate of Nelson. Prior to this meeting, Emma had no free choice. Necessity made her go to Greville, ambition to Lord Hamilton, to Horatio Nelson - love. On Nelson's part, this was also a real, great feeling.

The victory at Abukir, and the whole of Naples comes to life, from complete despondency, he passes to the most stormy joy. All admiration belongs to Nelson, and Naples greets him as a triumphant. Emma's heart must have beaten strongly when she saw him surrounded by such a halo of glory.

The last campaign undermined Nelson's health, and he gladly accepts Lady Hamilton's invitation to go to Castel Mare for a holiday.

“I live in their house, and only the meticulous care with which I am surrounded could restore my sad health,” Nelson writes to his wife.

Some time later, Nelson was assigned to occupy Malta. But the victory this time was not his, and he returned to Italy, where the French threatened Naples. The Royal Family had to flee, and Naples was occupied by French troops. The Hamiltons and Nelson worked out an escape plan to the smallest detail. Events followed one after another with extraordinary rapidity. Emma - a poor nanny twenty years ago - holds the fate of the royal family in her hands, and it is only her energy, her determination that she owes her salvation. With the general panic, Lady Hamilton alone maintains her presence of mind and encourages others. Soon Nelson took advantage of the favorable moment, and Naples again passes into the power of the British.

The royal family could return to Naples, but they were afraid of this, and the Hamiltons and crown prince. It seemed that all royal power was now in the hands not of Mary Carolina, but of Emma Hamilton.

There is a lively correspondence between her and Maria Carolina, in which the latter dictates her orders, explicit and intimate, and Emma exactly fulfills them. In her letters, Emma gives the queen an exact answer about all the events in Naples.

But Emma's extensive correspondence with the Queen does not absorb all of Emma's time. On behalf of the queen, she frees the prisoners, distributes money to those in need. In October 1799, the English fleet leaves for Palermo and Lady Hamilton with him. Maria Carolina is waiting for her here. Nelson is again greeted as a triumphant, and Emma shares the glory with him. Maria Carolina showers her with gifts.

Frequent cruising forced Nelson to leave Naples more than once. In his absence, he transfers his power to Emma. On one of these occasions she received a deputation from the island of Malta. She found a way to satisfy their request, for which she was given a rare honor for a woman. The Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Russian Emperor Paul I sent her a Maltese cross along with a handwritten letter.

An unexpected unpleasant event changed happy life Emma. Lord Hamilton was called to London, and another was appointed to the post of envoy in Naples. It was hard for Emma to leave the country where she saw herself at the pinnacle of fame, and go to London, the same London that did not accept her in all the splendor of her twenty-year-old beauty. What could she expect from him now, at the end of her youth. Meanwhile, Nelson could no longer completely live without her. Referring to poor health, he temporarily refuses active service and follows it.

Maria Caroline accompanied them to Vienna.

Already in Vienna, Emma, ​​intoxicated by her success and accustomed to worship, had to face a strict and even unfriendly attitude. In London, she was received coldly.

In 1801, Lady Hamilton had a daughter, Horace. Her birth was shrouded in mystery, and she was introduced to Lord Hamilton as an orphan whom Emma would like to adopt. The fact that this is the daughter of Emma and Nelson, Lord Hamilton never found out.

It was strange in general the behavior of Lord Hamilton in this whole romantic story. A smart and insightful man, he could not help but see what everyone saw. But all the time, until his death, he was a tender friend of Nelson, and his attitude towards Emma was the same as before. Gaina of his behavior and went with him to the grave.

All documents relating to the child were destroyed, and only thanks to Nelson's letters to Emma, ​​which the latter did not dare to destroy, do we know who Horace's parents were.

“You know, my dear Emma, ​​that I would give anything in the world to be with you and our dear little daughter,” Nelson writes to Emma.

Horatia herself did not know who her mother was. She only knew that she was Nelson's daughter and "of too high a position to reveal her name." So Emma told her, and she could learn nothing more for the rest of her life.

Less than a month after the birth of her daughter, Emma was forced to start a secular life. Lord Hamilton considered it his duty to have his own salon. Emma's salon was a success. Even the Prince of Wales expressed a desire to dine with them and listen to Lady Hamilton sing. But this news aroused Nelson's discontent and jealousy, and Emma deftly avoided this opportunity, not wanting to upset her lover. Of course, the triumph that once surrounded Emma was gone, and the years took their toll. Strongly replenished, Emma has already lost her former impeccable beauty. But still, she was still beautiful enough to captivate, and her turbulent past surrounded her with an aura of intense interest.

At the end of 1801, Nelson instructs Emma to buy an estate for him to live there with her. Emma happily fulfills this assignment and buys the Merton estate in the vicinity of London. Everything you need is here. Not very large, but a comfortable home also for Lord Hamilton, whose favorite sport used to be fishing, a river full of fish.

In Merton, Emma experienced the happiest years of her love for Nelson. Her husband and Nelson were on the best of terms. After settling in Merton, they seemed to wish and thought it was forever. But Emma soon got bored with the noisy social life. One after another, guests began to appear in Merton, Nelson's relatives and friends, the son of Maria Carolina Luitpold and others.

In early July 1802, Nelson and the Hamiltons take a short trip. This time they were not three of them, as they were traveling from Italy, and were generally everywhere, but four of them. The fourth is Greville. Emma seemed interested in defying public opinion, carrying her husband and two lovers with her.

In April 1803, Lord Hamilton dies in the arms of Emma and Nelson, who did not leave his head. The loss of a loved one, to whom alone, in essence, she owed her position, was aggravated even more by the fact that the state of Lord Hamilton passed to Greville, and to her only things and a small lump sum. Probably Lord Hamilton would have left her more, but he last minute hoped that the government would give him, and then her, the pension he had been asking for a long time.

Two weeks after the funeral, Greville asked Emma to clean up their hotel in London and look for another apartment. In general, here it finally manifested itself in its present form. Emma's former lover, he behaved like her worst enemy. Outraged by his behavior, Nelson gifts Emma Merton and gives her a monthly annuity. For anyone else, what Emma had would have been quite sufficient, but for the spoiled life of Emma, ​​this is almost a need. All her numerous requests addressed to the government and her former friends for the issuance of her pension after Lord Hamilton, lead to nothing on October 21, 1805, the memorable day of Trafalgar. Before the battle, Nelson adds a paragraph to his will, in which he addresses the government: “The only favor that I ask from my Sovereign and from my homeland, he writes, is concern for the fate of Lady Hamilton and little Horace.”

This fight was the last for Nelson. England was saved, but Nelson was killed.

For Emma, ​​this was the end. After Nelson's death, his wife and relatives were generously supported by the government. But Emma and Horace, about whom Nelson only asked his homeland, were completely forgotten. Emma seemed to want to be completely erased from Nelson's life, like a stain on blessed memory hero.

With the death of Nelson, Emma's life turned into a continuous ordeal. Under Nelson, there were hopes, there was life, now it was poverty, already real, and the complete contempt of others.

In 1811, her mother dies, who was always with her and managed to earn the respect of everyone who ever surrounded Emma.

Emma goes to jail for debt. Freed from there, she soon sees herself in danger of being re-arrested for new defaults and flees from her creditors to France. But even here there is no light. Ten years since Nelson's death, Lady Hamilton is still trying to overcome her fate, and, having only lived through them, she sees that her efforts are useless. She ended just as she began, in complete poverty. In January 1815, she fell ill with bronchitis, which turned into pneumonia.

Lady Hamilton was dying in a cold room with bare walls. Two portraits hung over the bed - her mother and Nelson, next to her sobbed Horace

On January 15, in the evening, Emma died. She was buried at the expense of her maternal relative, Henry Kadagan, a man with whom she never had anything in common during her lifetime.

Emma Lyon was born on April 28, 1765 to the blacksmith Henry Lyon in the village of Nessie, Cheshire. At baptism, she was given the name Amy, however, more often the family called her Emly.
The girl was a true angel: pretty, cheerful and kind. And very hardworking, but how else, because the family was poor. Little Em'ly, barefooted next to a drooping donkey, was delivering coal for sale.
In London, where the girl moved with her mother, she also did not have to sit idle: Emley worked as a nanny, a servant, whoever she had to.
By the age of 14, the mess turned into a written beauty, and this metamorphosis did not go unnoticed.
The only thing that did not allow the girl to be on the panel was her extraordinary beauty and decisive character. Beauty helped Emli find a steady income, albeit of a somewhat dubious nature: she was taken to work, no less, a goddess. In a strange institution called the "Temple of Health" at the doctor-charlatan Graham in Emly, she played the role of the goddess Hebe-Vestina in front of the health-hungry "parishioners". goddess", throwing off almost all the covers, or everything, for a fee, takes antique poses.

Caricature of Emma Hamilton as an artists" model, with reference to her famous "Attitudes" (poses in imitation of classical antiquity).

The earliest portrait of Emma Lyon, the future lady, as the goddess of health.

It was there that Emly met a young squire named Harry Featherston, handsome and bon vivant. Calling a spade a spade, we can say that she simply became his kept woman - a typical way of young goddesses. . Emli was a girl ... of free morals, so when she announced that she was pregnant, her gentleman seriously doubted that the child was from him and threw the poor thing out into the street. all men are bastards!
But Emley was not only beautiful, but also intelligent, and she quickly remembered that one of Featherston's friends, Charles Greville, had hinted many times that he would not mind taking the beauty for himself. Well! His time has come.

Who could have guessed that Em'ly would fall in love with Greville? Love made her forget about coquetry, nightly revelry and hectic life. Sitting peacefully at home and waiting for the arrival of her priceless Charles, she tries her best to become real lady. The common “Emly” is replaced by the harmonious “Emma”, and Emma is working on correcting her pronunciation, taking music and singing lessons, studying etiquette in order to adequately receive Greville's guests, in a word, she did everything to be worthy of her beloved.

And meanwhile, beloved, all men are bastards! he firmly decided to get rid of his girlfriend, because he had little money, he wanted to live widely, and a rich heiress appeared on the horizon, to whom he wooed.
But, as a noble man, he arranged the happiness of his annoying mistress - he handed her over to his uncle, Lord Hamilton, the envoy of England in Naples. It's funny, but Greville wrote a letter to his uncle, I strongly advise you to take Emma. “At your age, a neat and helpful woman is far from being superfluous,” the nephew tempted the uncle. Sir William hesitated, but the temptation was stronger. "You can be sure," he wrote back, "I will do my best to comfort Emma in her loss, but I foresee that I will often have to dry the tears on her pretty face." Emma arrived in Naples in the spring of 1786. Oh, of course, only to stay, as Greville assured ...
What the unfortunate woman experienced, realizing that she was abandoned, that she was presented to another man, I’m afraid to even imagine.

Lady Hamilton as Circe
George Romney 1782

But Emma's willpower, offended pride and decisive character contributed to the fact that she made a firm decision: she would no longer be a kept woman. She will be a wife. "I will never be Sir William's mistress," she writes in one of recent letters Greville. “And if you inflict such an insult on me, I warn you, I will do everything to force him to marry me.” The threat is all the more terrible for a man like Charles, what exactly he should have (in case Lord Hamilton does not have children ) receive a huge inheritance of uncle.
Lord Hamilton was delighted with Emma. He did not spare any money so that she took singing lessons, dressed up, arranged receptions, shone. Still, next to him was a goddess, “one of the most beautiful women of her time,” according to the English artist George Romney. All of Naples was at Emma's feet.

True, envious people said that her beauty was simple and somewhat heavy, but, judging by the portraits, the tall beauty with huge blue eyes and luxurious brown hair was irresistible.
And Lord Hamilton was happy to lead "his fairy" to the crown, even though this misalliance caused a storm in society. The wedding took place in September 1791. The groom was sixty-one years old, the bride twenty-six, but what did it matter! Emma sincerely, humanly, fell in love with the old gentleman, who treated her with amazing kindness.

So Elmy Lyon became Lady Hamilton. Incredible takeoff! But ... the wedding was scandalous, the society did not accept the newly-made lady, and the king expressed his displeasure to the newlywed. The queen refused to give Lady Hamilton an audience, thus ending Emma's hopes of entering the high society.

But this was not the kind of girl who grew up in the London slums to give up. Just think, an obstacle, Queen of England!. She is the only queen in the world!
The solution was simple and effective: Lord Hamilton and his wife were going to France, and quickly, very quickly, until the scandalous story of their marriage became the talk of the town.
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, of course, received the British ambassador in Naples and, moreover, handed over with Lady Hamilton letters to her sister, Queen of Naples, Maria Caroline.
Everything, the path to the royal court of Naples is open! And, I must say, Emma conquered the court and the queen. It was impossible to resist her extraordinary beauty, liveliness, charm. Here is a portrait of Lady Hamilton left by Alexandre Dumas on the pages of the novel "San Felice":
“She had reached—or so it seemed—the age when a woman enters the time of full bloom. The gaze of one who carefully peered into her, every moment more and more fully revealed her infinite charm.

Her face, tender, like that of a girl who has not yet fully matured, was framed by strands of dark blond hair; radiant eyes, the shade of which did not give in exact definition, shone from under the eyebrows, as if drawn by Raphael's brush; the neck was snow-white and flexible, like that of a swan; shoulders and arms, with their roundness and tenderness, with their enchanting plasticity, did not resemble cold statues that emerged from under an antique chisel, but the delightful, quivering creations of Germain Pilon, and they were not inferior to antique ones in their completeness and in the grace of blue veins; her mouth was like that of a fairy goddaughter, that princess who dropped a pearl with every word, and a diamond with every smile; those lips seemed like a small chest containing countless kisses. Unlike Maria Carolina's magnificent attire, she wore a simple cashmere tunic, white and long, with wide sleeves and a semicircular neckline at the top - like a Greek one, at the waist it was pleated with a red saffiano belt woven with gold threads and decorated with rubies, opals and turquoise; the clasp of the belt was a magnificent cameo with a portrait of Sir William Hamilton. A wide Indian shawl of iridescent shades with gold embroidery was thrown over the tunic; at intimate evenings with the queen, this cape served Emma more than once when she performed the “shawl dance” invented by her, in which she achieved such magical perfection and such bliss that no skillful dancer could compare with her.

Yes, Emma drove everyone who saw her "dance with a shawl" crazy. With something, and even with various draperies, she knew how to handle, the work of the goddess of health Hebe-Vestina affected. Then Emli seduced all the visitors of the Temple of Health with her slightly draped nudity, and learned to handle shawls and draperies very well!
It was the memories of the "goddess" work that probably inspired that amazing performance in which Lady Hamilton had no equal - the pose. With the help of shawls, Emma created images of ancient goddesses and heroines. She froze in one position or another for several minutes, allowing the audience to admire her, and, with a slight movement, changing the folds of the drapery, took a new position, just as expressive and beautiful.

Lady Hamilton as Mary Magdalene

Attitudes Lady Hamilton

The Comtesse de Boigne, in her memoirs, says of her:
“Others tried to imitate the talent of this woman; I don't think they succeeded. This is a thing in which there is only one step to the ridiculous. In addition, in order to have her success, you must first of all be flawlessly beautiful from head to toe, and you rarely meet such people.

Emma as Cassandra

Emma as St. Caecilians

Life seemed amazing to Emma! She writes to Grenville, who, despite his betrayal, remains her constant correspondent: "Indeed, if we stay here, it is only because I promised the queen not to leave her until her departure" And then she says - "I spent the evening together with the queen, laughing, singing, etc. But during the reception, I kept my place and showed the queen such respect as if I were seeing her for the first time. She liked it very much. imagine how happy dear sir William Right, you cannot understand our happiness, it is indescribable, we are not separated for an hour all day We live like lovers, and not like husband and wife, especially when you think about how they relate to each other modern spouses .. "

Lord and Lady Hamilton

As for the child, whose fate my readers were concerned about, Emma did not suffer from an excess of maternal feelings. The girl, who was also named Emma, ​​lived with her grandmother, and Emma Sr. sent them money. They only saw each other a few times.

So, Lady Hamilton is beautiful, incomparable, magnificent! Here is what the admiring Goethe wrote about her:
“Lord Hamilton, who is still here as an English envoy, after a long study of art and many years of observation of nature, found the perfect combination of nature and art in a beautiful young girl. He took her to him. She is an Englishwoman in her twenties. She is very beautiful and very well built. He made her a Greek costume that suits her amazingly. With her hair down, taking two shawls, she changes her postures, gestures, expressions so much that in the end you think that this is just a dream. What thousands of artists would be happy to achieve - here you see embodied in movement, with an exciting variety. On her knees, standing, sitting, lying, serious, sad, playful, enthusiastic, penitent, captivating, threatening, anxious... One expression follows another and follows from it. She knows how to give the folds of the dress for each movement and change them, make a hundred different headdresses from the same fabric.

But Emma is also a singer! Her voice of rare beauty, which, moreover, was worked on, thanks to the money of Lord Hamilton, by the best teachers, was highly appreciated even by the singers of the Neapolitan opera, the king himself came to the English ambassador to enjoy Emma's singing.

Emma became so close to the queen that sometimes she spent whole days about the palace. This unexpected intimacy caused, however, rumors about ... the peculiar relationship of the ladies. There were even cartoons like this one.

"Love"-à-la-mode, or Two dear friends", an early 19th-century caricature by James Gillray, reportedly depicting a scandalous rumour told about Emma, ​​Lady Hamilton (Nelson's mistress), and Queen Maria Carolina of Naples (presumably the woman on the left, who seems to be wearing some kind of coronet or crown beneath the feathers in her headdress). Emma has taken off her bonnet and put it on the bench. Two men spy out the situation in some distaste, from behind the bushes.Text in image: One lady to the other "Little does he imagine that he has a female rival" Gentleman in nautical uniform (Nelson?) "What is to be done to put a stop to this disgraceful Business?" Other gentleman "Take her from Warwick"(??)

The delightful Lady Hamilton, surrounded by admirers who praised her beauty and talents, was, oddly enough, faithful to her husband. Nobody could brag about it special attention, even the king was among the rejected admirers.
Her life would probably have been like this: easy, full of pleasures and worship of others, if one day they didn’t appear on the horizon. Scarlet Sails English ships. They were brought to Naples by the illustrious Horatio Nelson. The one-eyed hero without one arm won Emma's heart. I would like to understand what was in this short, not very healthy man, an invalid, that drove the beautiful Lady Hamilton crazy.
Only from England did the Neapolitans expect salvation from Bonaparte, so Nelson was greeted as a hero. By this time, Emma's closeness to Queen Mary Carolina was already such that Lady Hamilton was entrusted with the most important mission of mediating between the two countries. Emma handled it brilliantly. She transmits secret letters, writes them together with the queen.
“I did not have time to write to you, as we have been writing important letters for three days and three nights, which we sent today by courier to our government,” she writes to Greville.
Deeds, deeds, but not only because of deeds, there is no time to write to Emma.
Nearby - Nelson, the winner, the hero. The victory at Abukir, and the whole of Naples comes to life, from complete despondency, he passes to the most stormy joy. All admiration belongs to Nelson, and Naples greets him as a triumphant. Emma's heart must have beaten strongly when she saw him surrounded by such a halo of glory.
The last campaign undermined Nelson's health, and he gladly accepts Lady Hamilton's invitation to go to Castel Mare for a holiday. It was the happiest time in Emma's life. Everything had already been said between her and Nelson, and they could spend all their days together. Lady Hamilton took charge of the Rear Admiral's health. Nelson was lying in a room on the second floor, from the wide windows of which a majestic and beautiful view opened. The bay was in full view. Vesuvius rose in the distance. Emma fed the sick man broths, gave him donkey milk, read aloud to him, changed his bandages. For the first time in his life, Nelson felt in relation to himself such a tender, touching concern Lord Hamilton, an old, sick man who dearly loved Emma, ​​did not prevent this. He seemed resigned to the thought of losing his wife's love, but believed in the affection and reverence that Lady Hamilton had always held for him. To her credit, Emma always, until the death of the old lord, took care of him tenderly.

Emma Hart, later Lady Hamilton, in a White Turban
George Romney, circa 1791

Horatio Nelson became the center of the universe for Emma, ​​for him she was ready for any follies. He also idolized her, but, alas .. The Admiral was married, and there were no hopes for a divorce. His wife didn't want to hear about it. She was quite satisfied with the position of the wife of the illustrious admiral, and she did not intend to change anything in her life. Passionate and loving, Emma understood that she could never become Mrs. Nelson, for this name belongs to another.
Meanwhile, political events developed in the most unfavorable way. Fortune turned against the British, and the French were rapidly approaching Naples. The royal family was forced to flee the city. Oh into it hard times Lady Hamilton showed miracles of courage and enterprise. She developed an escape plan, she led the trembling queen and no less trembling king through the underground tunnel, carrying the prince in her arms - Emma was strong and strong woman. Lady Hamilton remained calm and courageous in the midst of general panic. She helped the king, queen and members of their family to get into the boats - and onto the English ship, under the protection of friendly bayonets. The family of the Neapolitan monarchs was saved.

Lady Hamilton as Ambassador
Engraved by Thomas G Appleton after a picture by George Romney.


Fortune is changeable - and now the British are once again becoming the masters of Naples. The royal couple, however, does not dare to return, but the British ambassador and his wife return immediately. It could not be otherwise - after all, in Naples, Nelson, Emma should be next to him, not a minute of delay!

Love makes beautiful in her eyes a person whose appearance seemed unattractive to many of his contemporaries. The portraits embellished the original. Nelson was short and thin; when he smiled or spoke, you could see that he had bad teeth. Nelson is a 'small, mangled figure... with restless movements and a piercing voice.' The motionless, cloudy, dead right eye and the empty right sleeve, bent and fastened under the chest, made a painful impression on those who saw him for the first time. But for Emma, ​​he was more beautiful than all the kings of the world. Nelson writes tender letters to her: “In every respect,” he wrote to Emma, ​​“from your role as ambassador’s wife to your duties as household I have never met a woman equal to you. This elegance, this perfection, and, above all, the kindness of the heart is incomparable.” However, Emma has changed. She was no longer that young beauty before whom the peasants fell on their knees, mistaking her for the Virgin Mary. Tall, Emma, ​​having become very plump, became very big woman, next to which the short admiral looked like a small man. But what did they care about how they look from the outside. They were together and they were perfectly happy.

An English cartoonist saw Emma like this

And this is an artist



But not only love fills the life of Lady Hamilton in these months. She practically replaces Queen Mary Carolina. Emma does everything. what her royal friend asks for in letters, endlessly writes reports and reports not only to Maria Carolina, but also to the Admiralty and the British ministers. The fact is that her husband, Lord Hamilton, although he holds the post of ambassador, is not at all interested in politics and other nonsense. Art is the only thing that arouses his interest. His collections are unique, and the lord spares no time for money to replenish them.
Emma, ​​on behalf of the queen, administers justice, releases prisoners, awards, dictates decrees. Her energy seems to be inexhaustible. Instead of the absent Nelson, Lady Hamilton receives the delegation of Malta, listens and grants their requests. In gratitude, Emperor Paul I, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, sent her a Maltese cross along with a handwritten letter.

Maria Carolina showers her with gifts, calls her sister in her letters. Beloved Horatio is nearby - happiness and luck seemed to never turn away from her.
Lady Hamilton reigned in Naples next to her hero.

But all good things come to an end. Ended and cloudless life of Emma in Naples. The very old Lord Hamilton was recalled from Naples to London.

Clouds were gathering over Nelson, too. At the top, Rear Admiral was not liked, and the Admiralty was also dissatisfied. Rumors about the relationship between Nelson and Emma Hamilton reached London and his wife. Lady Nelson hinted that she wanted to visit her husband in Italy, but Nelson curtly replied that she should remain where she was.
Nelson's position seemed ridiculous to some, ambiguous to others. The position of Lord Hamilton is worthy of wonder and ridicule. Emma's position is scandalous and outrageous.

George Romney.
Emily Hart as Miranda, 1785-1786

But Nelson and Lady Hamilton didn't care. They couldn't hide their love, couldn't hide and lie. The situation was tragic and insoluble. The admiral knew that he was questioning his reputation and, to a large extent, his career. For Emma, ​​loving Nelson was fraught with even more trouble. With incredible efforts, she achieved a high position in society, becoming the worthy wife of an aristocratic envoy, a very, very rich man, a friend of the Queen of Naples! Her love for Nelson forever deprived her of everything, without giving anything in return. Divorce in those days in England could be carried out only by an act of Parliament, that is, it was practically impossible. Sir William carefully pretended not to notice, but did he really notice nothing? And Nelson's wife? She still remained in England, living in the circle of rear admiral's relatives.
Even more dissatisfied in the Admiralty were the repeated manifestations of Nelson's indiscipline. There he got tired of his frequent letters with complaints about his health (when Nelson was in trouble, he immediately fell ill). The Lords believed that the Rear Admiral paid too much attention to the interests of the Kingdom of Naples to the detriment of his other duties. One day Nelson received the following stern letter from Lord Spencer: ‘I wish, my lord, that your health will permit you to remain in the Mediterranean. But I think, in agreement with the opinion of all your friends, that you will sooner recover in England than remain inactive at a foreign court, no matter how pleasant the respect and gratitude inspired by your merits there may be to you.
On June 10, 1800, Nelson and the Hamiltons (William was recalled to England), as well as Queen Caroline, sailed from Palermo to Livorno on the ship Foudroyant. From Livorno to Ancona they proceeded overland. Further, the Russian frigate delivered the travelers to Trieste, then they arrived in carriages in Vienna. Here Caroline tenderly said goodbye to her friend. And our strange travelers went further, to Hamburg, from where they reached Yarmouth on November 6 by sea. Horatio Nelson and the Hamilton couple returned to their homeland.

An outstanding fleet soldier, the admiral was incredibly naive in human relations. Returning from Italy to London in 1800, he sincerely hoped that his family affairs would somehow form, that his wife Fanny would understand everything and come to terms with the existence of Emma Hamilton. Naturally, nothing came of this, there was a complete and final break. Fanny was a reasonable woman and did not even listen to her husband's nonsense about divorce. Nelson wrote to his wife Farewell letter, in which he said that she never gave him a reason to reproach her for anything. Fanny had to live separately, all relationships, even correspondence, were interrupted. Nelson made sure that his wife did not need anything, he provided her with a pension of £1,200 a year. This was quite enough to lead a life corresponding to her position - after all, she remained legally the wife of the Vice Admiral, Viscountess Nelson.

Fanny, Viscountess Nelson

This was the last time Nelson showed himself to be a man who cares about a woman. And paradoxically, it was the unloved abandoned wife.
From October 1801 to May 1803, Nelson was off duty and lived in England with the Hamiltons. In 1801, Emma had a daughter, she was named Horace, but neither the admiral nor Emma could recognize her daughter. Horatia was baptized as the daughter of Vice Admiral Charles Thompson. Emma and Nelson were godparents. Another daughter died a few weeks after her birth in early 1803. They say that Lord Hamilton did not suspect anything and continued to quietly enjoy the contemplation of his collections, sitting in an armchair. I doubt it is. I think that he, already a 70-year-old man, did not want to lose his family, even such a strange one, and did not want to be left without Emma's tender daughter care. But he probably already had a certain plan of revenge.

Nelson never owned a house of his own, and he longed to acquire one. Now, with a government pension and income from the ducal estate in Sicily, this dream could be realized. Entrepreneurial Emma found a decent house about ten kilometers from London with a fairly large plot of land. It was Merton. In September 1801, Nelson became the owner of the estate. The entire amount for Merton - 9 thousand pounds sterling - had to be paid to him alone, although both Nelson and the Hamiltons intended to live there.

Emma and Lord Hamilton at Merton

Emma, ​​with her characteristic passion, took up the restructuring of the house, the redevelopment of the site. Nelson liked it here. He liked to talk with the captains who often visited him, walking along the platform, which was called "stern". Another platform was called "deck". In general, everyone who visited Merton said that this estate is a museum of one person, and this person is the great, greatest and god-like Admiral Nelson. Everywhere hung his portraits and paintings depicting the battles won by the admiral. The whole way of life in Merton was built to please Nelson. Emma was happy to please her lover in everything. A large stream flowed through the land - a tributary of the Wendle River, which flowed into the Thames. Emma named it the Little Nile. Sir William became addicted to fishing and spent long periods of time with a fishing rod on the quiet bank of the Little Nile. He often visited London, spending whole days in the British Museum, where a significant part of his art collection was located. Sir William longed for peace and quiet. Like all old people, he loved to sit comfortably in an armchair or on the bank of a stream, to reflect on the meaning of life. In general, he needed a "quiet home", but Merton was not one.

There were endless guests at Merton, at least fifteen people sat at the table every day. Expenses were rising, but there was not much money. Nelson is not Lord Hamilton, the admiral is not a rich man ... and Emma is not used to saving ... If there were twice as much money, Lady Hamilton would have spent them too.
On April 6, 1803, the ‘union of three’ came to an end. William Hamilton has died. The funeral took place in Pembrokeshire. Nelson did not attend them: he did not like funerals and, if possible, tried to avoid such sad ceremonies. Emma mourned the passing of the man who had done so much for her and had always been kind to her. “April 6th is an unlucky day for the orphaned Emma. At 10:10 a.m., faithful Sir William left me forever!” _ she wrote in her diary.

It was then that it became quite clear that Lord William knew everything about the relationship between his wife and Nelson. And he perfectly understood whose daughter was Horace. Not wanting the Hamilton fortune to fall into the wrong hands, he left nothing to Emma, ​​appointing Charles Greville as his sole heir. This meant that the future of Lady Hamilton and Horace was entirely in Nelson's hands.
But Emma didn't care. All her thoughts were focused on something else. The death of Sir William made her "blue dream" a little more real - to officially become the wife of her lover. However, the rightful Lady Nelson was still standing in the way to the altar. Naive Emma, ​​like a child, right!
After the death of Hamilton, Emma and Nelson were finally able to take in their dearly loved by both of them Horace, who was brought up in another family. It seemed that now nothing could separate them.
Alas, it just seemed...
As a true military man, Nelson loved naval battles and gladly accepted the offer of the Admiralty to lead the fleet in the war against the French. In the upcoming battle, the British hoped not just to win a victory, but to decisively crush the naval power of the enemy (in any case, that was the task). Nelson could not but understand that such a battle would require great sacrifices. In those days, admirals and captains in the midst of battle were on the upper deck and were exposed to the same danger as ordinary sailors. Nelson lost an eye in battle, then an arm, and no one could give guarantees that this time a stray cannonball would not take his life.
And, what is absolutely amazing, knowing this, Nelson did not at all care about the fate of Emma and his daughter, did not think about writing a will that could save them from poverty. Nelson was pleased with his appointment. In a letter to a friend, he explains: ‘I am going because it is right and necessary, and I will render faithful service to my country.’

Emma was in despair, she understood that Horatio had already decided everything, and her pleas were useless. As if I foresee eternal separation, she burst into tears and tried not to part with her beloved for a second.
On the eve of the battle, which promised to be terrible and bloody, Nelson decided to put his affairs in order. He even made a will. It sounded like this: “I entrust Emma to Lady Hamilton in the care of my king and country. I hope they provide for her so that she can live up to her rank. I also bequeath to the mercy of my country my adopted daughter, Horace Nelson Thompson, and wish her to be called only Nelson in the future."
How amazing is the naivety and simplicity of this man, wise in campaigns and battles! He was convinced that his great love to Emma, ​​a good reason for the government to provide for her generously. He could not help but know - Lady Hamilton had told him so a thousand times - that in high society she was hated, condemned and despised.

Horace Nelson kneeling before her father's grave (William Owen, after 1807). The picture is completely fantasy, but touching

Nelson felt it himself. And yet, a few minutes before the deadly battle, he entrusts the two creatures most dear to him to the care of the king! Instead of leaving them your fortune. Naivety bordering on idiocy and dishonesty! It was said that when the contents of this will became known to Emma a few weeks later, she exclaimed: ‘What a child my Nelson was! God, what a heart this woman had, whom for some reason they like to call either a courtesan or an adventurer!
Nelson died doing his duty to England and leaving Emma and Horace lonely and poor. Emma was disgraced by her scandalous relationship with the admiral, and all doors were closed to her.

Death of Nelson

It became too much to support Merton, and Emma sold him. Unable to save, she quickly spent the money received from the sale. Lady Hamilton wrote endlessly to the Admiralty, recalling not only Nelson's will, but also her services to England. Alas, to no avail. She tried to remind Maria Caroline of her former friendship, of how much she had done to save the royal family - in vain. She wrote to Grenville, her former lover and heir to Lord Hamilton - he did not answer her letters. Money melted away, creditors did not give a respite ... Lady Hamilton ended up in a debtor's prison, where she spent about ten months. In the spring or summer of 1814, Joshua's lawyer, Jonathan Smith, managed to get her released on bail and help her escape to France, to Calais.
The unfortunate, sick woman kept trying to find at least some means so that her priceless Horatia would not starve, so that she could receive at least some kind of education.

Emma Hamilton and Madam Bianchi seated at a square piano

Alas, this was no longer possible for Emma, ​​who had once been so full of energy. Life is over, and it was in vain to remember the past. On January 15, 1815, poor Emma, ​​passionate and talented, beautiful, bright, brilliant, loving, died in terrible poverty ...

Horatia returned to France after her mother's death. To avoid being arrested for her mother's debts, she arrived dressed as a boy, found Nelson's relatives, and lived happily with them until her marriage. She died on March 6, 1881 at the age of 80.

From Emma in this world there was only a rose "Lady Hamilton"

Rose "Lady Hamilton"

In vain was her radiance, in vain was her life. From dust we came, to dust we return.

How many have fallen into this abyss,
I'll spread it away!
The day will come when I will disappear
From the surface of the earth.

Everything that sang and fought will freeze,
It shone and burst:
And the green of my eyes, and a gentle voice,
And gold hair.
Tsvetaeva

Booker Igor 14.02.2019 at 14:00

Lady Hamilton is the mistress of Admiral Nelson and the muse of the portrait painter George Romney. She passed from hand to hand: Greville, Hamilton, Nelson ... When Lord Nelson died, Emma Hamilton also disappeared, although she outlived her famous lover by ten years. Novels were written about this scandalous person and films were made, and an operetta was staged a hundred years after her death.

Amy Lyon was the daughter of Chester blacksmith Henry Lyon and maid Mary Lyon, née Kidd. The girl, born at the end of April, was baptized on May 12, 1765, and a month later her father died. The widow with the child went to native village where she settled with her mother Sarah Kidd. From the age of six, Amy delivered coal on a donkey, and at twelve she became a nanny in the house of the village doctor, surgeon Honoratus Lee Thomas (Honoratus Leigh Thomas). After a year, Amy moved to London.

So conflicting information has been preserved about her life in the capital that it is very difficult to figure out where the lie is and where the truth is. Perhaps Amy got a job as a saleswoman in a jewelry store, one of whose clients was a lady of dubious reputation. She drew attention to Amy's pretty face and invited her to become her companion. Regarding the loss of Amy's innocence, they say that she decided to help her relative, who was taken to the sailors against his will, and turned to his boss.

Londoners then were crazy about the charlatan James Graham (James Graham), who was trained in the art of magnetism in Paris by Mesmer himself. The Scottish medicine man gave fascinating lectures on eternal youth, sold talismans and medicines. Close to the Thames embankment Royal Terrace and theater "Adelphi" (Adelphi) Graham founded Temple of Health- "Temple of Health", issued by him as a medical institution. In this essentially brothel, wealthy but infertile couples, for a modest fee, went to the "heavenly bed" to restore their fertility and conception. Emma posed for him either under the guise of Hebe or Juventa, the goddess of youth, or portrayed the heroines of antiquity from Medea to Cleopatra. Her naked charms were designed to awaken in men the fading desires, and her art of draping in ancient Greek clothes introduced the fashion for antique bedspreads.

The beauty of Emma's body was appreciated by the English artists Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough and the great German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Forever she won the heart of the portrait painter George Romney (George Romney), becoming a model in his studio. Inspired by this recognition, Amy decided to become an actress. However, the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, after listening to her recitation, said that she was not fit for the stage. It must have been so bad that the Irishman Sheridan rejected the English girl who grew up in Wales.

In 1781, she met the wealthy, young dandy Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, who invited her to stay at his father's magnificent villa in Sussex. Emma stayed there for six months. Since Harry's mother was often there, the high-society dude settled his mistress in a cottage remote for several miles. Amy throws money at outfits and pleasures, becomes a dashing rider, and occasionally dances naked on a table. Metressa got sick of her lover, and when in December 1781 he found out that Emma was expecting a baby, he hurried to part with her. She returned not to London, but to her native village of Harden (Hawarden). There, Emma gave life to little Amy. She sends letters to her London acquaintances asking for help. They are written with numerous spelling errors and indicate that the beauty Amy was almost illiterate.

Professor Higgins in relation to Emma Galatea was Sir Charles Greville. A fine connoisseur of art with great taste arranged a country house, where his passion lived quietly and alone. Emma studied spelling, music, singing and read a lot. Almost her only entertainment was to visit Romney's workshop twice a week. The portrait painter managed to complete 24 portraits of Emma and created countless sketches. Emma called the artist "father".

Greville decided to improve his affairs by marrying a wealthy heiress and was thinking about how to arrange the fate of an already bored mistress, as his uncle, the English envoy in Naples, Lord William Douglas Hamilton, returned to London. Bonvivant, sportsman, cheerful and intelligent interlocutor, dancer, singer, violinist and archaeologist, diplomat Hamilton was fascinated by Emma's beauty and charm. On her birthday - she turned 21 - on April 26, 1786, Emma and her mother arrived in Naples. Lord Hamilton settled the two women, as if they were ladies of high society, in the Palazzo Sessa, the magnificent residence of the British ambassador.

“You cannot imagine,” wrote Amy Greville, “how kind Sir William is to me. He does everything possible to see me happy. He never dine out. than my shadow. Truly, I am angry that I cannot make him happy. I can only be polite and amiable. Indeed, I am as nice to him as I can. But I am also yours, Greville. To you alone can I belong and no one will take your place in my heart." In response, Charles advises her to quickly become the mistress of his 55-year-old uncle. Outraged by such cynicism of a loved one, Amy wrote to him: "If you take me to the extreme, I will marry him to myself."

Emma carried out her threat on September 6, 1791, when she married Lord Hamilton in London. On the eve of her wedding, she came to say goodbye to her "daddy" Romney, and a day after the marriage, the Hamiltons left for Italy. On the way, they stopped in Paris, where Empress Marie Antoinette, already under vigilant supervision, secretly handed Amy a letter to her sister, the Neapolitan Queen Maria Karolina. Such an assignment opened the doors of the Naples Palace for Emma. In a short time, Amy and Maria Carolina became friends.

On September 22, 1798, the whole of Naples solemnly welcomed the winner at Aboukir, Admiral Horatio Nelson. Amy met Nelson three months before the naval commander's triumph. On September 29, on the occasion of Nelson's birthday, Emma arranged a grand celebration. In a letter to his wife, the admiral wrote that 80 people were invited to the dinner party and at least 1740 guests were present at the ball. At the same time, an incident occurred. Nelson's eighteen-year-old stepson publicly reproached his adoptive father for cheating on his wife with Lady Hamilton. The last campaign somewhat upset Horatio's health, and he gladly accepted Lady Hamilton's invitation to rest in Castel Mare.

When the affairs of the service forced Nelson to leave Naples, in his absence he transferred power to Emma Hamilton. Once she received a deputation from the island of Malta and granted their requests. At the request of Nelson, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Russian Emperor Paul I sent her a Maltese cross in December 1799. But soon Lord Hamilton was recalled from his post as envoy to London. Nelson followed his beloved. Maria Caroline accompanied them to Vienna. In the capital of Great Britain, Emma Hamilton was greeted with hostility.

On January 31, 1801, Lady Hamilton gave birth to Nelson's daughter, Horatia. In the autumn of the same year, Nelson bought Merton Place, a small decrepit house on the outskirts of what is now Wimbledon. There he lived openly with Emma, ​​Sir William and Emma's mother, this menage a trois,"marriage for three" did not leave the public indifferent. Newspapers covered her every move, what outfits she wore, how her house was decorated, and even the dinner party menu. However, the former beauty left her - Emma became stout. Nelson did not like active public life that his beloved longed for. Emma turned down an offer from the Royal Opera of Madrid to sing for money on her stage. Lady Hamilton and Nelson tried to start a new, quiet life.

In April 1803, Lord Hamilton died in the arms of Emma and Nelson. The lord's fortune passed to his only heir, Sir Greville, and his wife got only things and a lump sum. Two weeks after the funeral, Greville asked Emma to find another place for herself. Outraged by his behavior, Nelson gives Emma Merton Place and gives her a monthly annuity. In early 1804, she gave birth to Nelson's second child. The girl died shortly after birth. Out of desperation, Emma began to gamble. If Horatio gets a divorce, then she could marry him.

Before the famous Battle of Trafalgar, which turned out to be the last for the admiral, Nelson added one more clause to his will: "The only favor that I ask from my Sovereign and from my homeland is concern for the fate of Lady Hamilton and little Horace." The government ignored the request of the national hero. A generous hand was awarded to Nelson's widow and relatives, and his beloved woman and daughter were on the verge of poverty. Emma spent almost a year in a debtor's prison. In 1811, her mother died, who was always with her and earned the respect of all Emma's acquaintances. Fleeing from creditors, Lady Hamilton and her daughter Horace fled to France. In January 1815, Emma fell ill with bronchitis, which turned into pneumonia. Above the bed of the dying woman hung two portraits - of her mother and of Nelson. Weeping at her deathbed, Horace never publicly admits that she was the daughter of Emma Hamilton.

Amy Lyon - blacksmith's daughter; Emily Hart - babysitter and shop assistant; Lady Emma Hamilton - wife of the British ambassador. It's all one woman and it's hers life path- from a poor closet to a luxurious palace. Extraordinary beauty, she was a real obsession for the famous portrait painter George Romney. He saw in her the ideal of female beauty and portrayed her in more than fifty paintings in different costumes and poses - from the Bacchante to Joan of Arc. Other artists also painted her, including the great English artist Reynolds and the fashionable portraitist Vigee Lebrun.

She was born in 1763 in Cheshire to a very poor family. Her parents were illiterate and on her birth certificate they put crosses instead of a signature. When her father died, she moved with her mother to London as a teenager. Here she first worked in the service, and then in a fruit shop. The visitors could not ignore the striking beauty of the girl, and many temptations and seducers appeared. One of them - the high-society varmint Charles Greville - made her his mistress and took her to his estate with her mother. He loved her in his own way and was engaged (quite successfully) in her education, but when he became entangled in debts, without hesitation, he sold her to pay off these debts and transfer property to him by will to his uncle, Lord William Hamilton, who at that time was the English ambassador to Kingdom of Naples.

Lord William Hamilton, an amateur archaeologist and connoisseur of art, especially antique, treated Emma at first as a beautiful work and wanted to bring this work to perfection. He hired her teachers of singing, music, foreign languages, taught secular manners. At her disposal were luxurious apartments overlooking the Gulf of Naples and maids. However, he soon saw other qualities of Emma: her quick mind, will, innate tact. And her extraordinary kindness, which is evidenced by many facts, among which at least the fact that she helped her grandmother with money until her death and, not ashamed, carried her poorly educated mother everywhere with her. (I must say that her mother, Mrs. Cadogan, did not disgrace her - she learned to read and write, always behaved with dignity and forced herself to be respected by the entire environment of Hamilton and Nelson.) Open, impulsive and kind, Emma easily won the love of others - from servants to high society people. She even became a close friend of the Neapolitan Queen Maria Carolina. "Such a woman, after some polishing, can be a good wife for a diplomat," Lord Hamilton decided and married Emma. Now all the salons of Naples opened before her. Balls, masquerades, concerts in which she sang superbly. She was even offered to perform in the opera.

And suddenly all this carefree life collapsed - she met Admiral Horatio Nelson. He came to Naples as a hero after the victory over Napoleon on the Nile. What attracted her to this one-eyed and one-armed man, mutilated in battles? sl

ava hero, intelligence and courage or boundless admiration for her? Is it possible to explain why and how love arises? And it was true love on both sides - selfless, devoted, not considering the opinion of the world. Nelson called Emma his "wife before God", his "pride and delight." Her letters to him, which have come down to us, are full of deep tenderness, admiration and care. Due to his status, Admiral Nelson could not officially divorce his wife, although after 1801 they parted and Nelson paid her a large allowance. And Emma did not dare to leave her aged and already almost helpless husband. And although Emma and Nelson made little secret of their connection, it was for them as painful as it was joyful. At all the receptions and ceremonies that were held in honor of the national hero Admiral Nelson, people saw them nearby, and there was no end to gossip. The doors of social drawing rooms were open only to Nelson, and the queen refused to invite Emma to court, despite her noble title. Emma had a daughter, and she named her after Horace's father. Nelson spent all his free time off duty with Emma and his daughter in the country house. He called these days "precious".

Emma was in Nelson's thoughts until the very last minute of his life. During the famous Battle of Trafalgar, he was mortally wounded. In the words of Winston Churchill, then he shielded England from the invasion of Napoleon. And in those moments, realizing that his life was ending, he talked about the most precious thing - about his homeland and Emma Hamilton. “Thank God, I have fulfilled my duty to the country,” he said to Dr. Scott, who was bending over him. “Give my respects to my dear Lady Hamilton. Let her take my hair and all the things that belong to me.” Agitated, he kept repeating: "I entrust Lady Hamilton to the care of my country." In Nelson's cabin, Captain Hardy found a letter addressed to Emma: "My dearly beloved Emma, ​​my dearest friend of the heart, the signal has now been given that the united enemy fleet is leaving the harbor. The wind is very light, so I have no hope of seeing it before tomorrow day. May God crown my efforts! In any case, I will do my best to ensure that my name remains dear to both of you, since I love you both more own life. And how now my last lines, which I write before the battle, are

puppies to you, so I hope in God that I will remain alive and finish my letter after the battle. Heaven bless you: this is what your Nelson prays for."

This unfinished letter was given to Emma. With a trembling hand, she wrote on it: "O poor, unfortunate Emma! O glorious and happy Nelson!"

She had a premonition that this was exactly what would happen: the country would honor its hero and stomp on her. Nelson's request in his will, written on the eve of Trafalgar, to take care of Emma and his daughter was not taken into account. "I entrust Emma, ​​Lady Hamilton, to the care of my king and country," Nelson pleaded. Neither the king nor the fatherland did absolutely nothing for Emma and Nelson's daughter. They preferred to forget even about those undoubted services that Emma rendered to her country. After all, it was she who obtained from the Neapolitan king, bound by obligations to Napoleon, to allow the fleet of England, which was in critical situation, replenish supplies of provisions and water in the ports of Sicily. And more than once, thanks to her connections with the queen, documents were in her hands that revealed the conspiracies of the European powers against England. When handing over these documents to Emma, ​​the Neapolitan queen sometimes made such a note: "Return them before 12 so that the king can read." And these papers, sometimes very important, ended up on the table of the English ambassador before the Neapolitan king got acquainted with them.

Hamilton's nephew Charles Greville, Emma's former lover, drove Emma out of the London house without a shadow of regret. The queen refused her a pension bequeathed to her by Hamilton. She sank more and more. She even sold the bloodied uniform of the hero Trafalgar and the silver medallion Nelson had given to her daughter. She landed in jail for debts and left it with only a few pounds in her pocket. She had to flee to France, as she was threatened with re-arrest. Here she changed housing for worse and worse, until she found herself in the attic. At the hour of her death in 1814, portraits of Nelson and her mother hung over her bed. And the sad Christ on the crucifix.

The sailors, who idolized their admiral, turned out to be not as ungrateful and forgetful as the nobility and the government: all the officers and captains of the English ships on the raid in Calais came to see Emma on their last journey.

However, I do not want to remember the old and impoverished Emma. It is better that an incomparable beauty remains in memory, passionately loving and just as selflessly loved.

Booker Igor 14.02.2019 at 14:00

Lady Hamilton is the mistress of Admiral Nelson and the muse of the portrait painter George Romney. She passed from hand to hand: Greville, Hamilton, Nelson ... When Lord Nelson died, Emma Hamilton also disappeared, although she outlived her famous lover by ten years. Novels were written about this scandalous person and films were made, and an operetta was staged a hundred years after her death.

Amy Lyon was the daughter of Chester blacksmith Henry Lyon and maid Mary Lyon, née Kidd. The girl, born at the end of April, was baptized on May 12, 1765, and a month later her father died. The widow with the child left for her native village, where she settled with her mother Sarah Kidd. From the age of six, Amy delivered coal on a donkey, and at twelve she became a nanny in the house of the village doctor, surgeon Honoratus Lee Thomas (Honoratus Leigh Thomas). After a year, Amy moved to London.

So conflicting information has been preserved about her life in the capital that it is very difficult to figure out where the lie is and where the truth is. Perhaps Amy got a job as a saleswoman in a jewelry store, one of whose clients was a lady of dubious reputation. She drew attention to Amy's pretty face and invited her to become her companion. Regarding the loss of Amy's innocence, they say that she decided to help her relative, who was taken to the sailors against his will, and turned to his boss.

Londoners then were crazy about the charlatan James Graham (James Graham), who was trained in the art of magnetism in Paris by Mesmer himself. The Scottish medicine man gave fascinating lectures on eternal youth, sold talismans and medicines. Close to the Thames embankment Royal Terrace and theater "Adelphi" (Adelphi) Graham founded Temple of Health- "Temple of Health", issued by him as a medical institution. In this essentially brothel, wealthy but infertile couples, for a modest fee, went to the "heavenly bed" to restore their fertility and conception. Emma posed for him either under the guise of Hebe or Juventa, the goddess of youth, or portrayed the heroines of antiquity from Medea to Cleopatra. Her naked charms were designed to awaken in men the fading desires, and her art of draping in ancient Greek clothes introduced the fashion for antique bedspreads.

The beauty of Emma's body was appreciated by the English artists Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough and the great German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Forever she won the heart of the portrait painter George Romney (George Romney), becoming a model in his studio. Inspired by this recognition, Amy decided to become an actress. However, the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, after listening to her recitation, said that she was not fit for the stage. It must have been so bad that the Irishman Sheridan rejected the English girl who grew up in Wales.

In 1781, she met the wealthy, young dandy Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, who invited her to stay at his father's magnificent villa in Sussex. Emma stayed there for six months. Since Harry's mother was often there, the high-society dude settled his mistress in a cottage remote for several miles. Amy throws money at outfits and pleasures, becomes a dashing rider, and occasionally dances naked on a table. Metressa got sick of her lover, and when in December 1781 he found out that Emma was expecting a baby, he hurried to part with her. She returned not to London, but to her native village of Harden (Hawarden). There, Emma gave life to little Amy. She sends letters to her London acquaintances asking for help. They are written with numerous spelling errors and indicate that the beauty Amy was almost illiterate.

Professor Higgins in relation to Emma Galatea was Sir Charles Greville. A fine connoisseur of art with great taste arranged a country house, where his passion lived quietly and alone. Emma studied spelling, music, singing and read a lot. Almost her only entertainment was to visit Romney's workshop twice a week. The portrait painter managed to complete 24 portraits of Emma and created countless sketches. Emma called the artist "father".

Greville decided to improve his affairs by marrying a wealthy heiress and was thinking about how to arrange the fate of an already bored mistress, as his uncle, the English envoy in Naples, Lord William Douglas Hamilton, returned to London. Bonvivant, sportsman, cheerful and intelligent interlocutor, dancer, singer, violinist and archaeologist, diplomat Hamilton was fascinated by Emma's beauty and charm. On her birthday - she turned 21 - on April 26, 1786, Emma and her mother arrived in Naples. Lord Hamilton settled the two women, as if they were ladies of high society, in the Palazzo Sessa, the magnificent residence of the British ambassador.

“You cannot imagine,” wrote Amy Greville, “how kind Sir William is to me. He does everything possible to see me happy. He never dine out. than my shadow. Truly, I am angry that I cannot make him happy. I can only be polite and amiable. Indeed, I am as nice to him as I can. But I am also yours, Greville. To you alone can I belong and no one will take your place in my heart." In response, Charles advises her to quickly become the mistress of his 55-year-old uncle. Outraged by such cynicism of a loved one, Amy wrote to him: "If you take me to the extreme, I will marry him to myself."

Emma carried out her threat on September 6, 1791, when she married Lord Hamilton in London. On the eve of her wedding, she came to say goodbye to her "daddy" Romney, and a day after the marriage, the Hamiltons left for Italy. On the way, they stopped in Paris, where Empress Marie Antoinette, already under vigilant supervision, secretly handed Amy a letter to her sister, the Neapolitan Queen Maria Karolina. Such an assignment opened the doors of the Naples Palace for Emma. In a short time, Amy and Maria Carolina became friends.

On September 22, 1798, the whole of Naples solemnly welcomed the winner at Aboukir, Admiral Horatio Nelson. Amy met Nelson three months before the naval commander's triumph. On September 29, on the occasion of Nelson's birthday, Emma arranged a grand celebration. In a letter to his wife, the admiral wrote that 80 people were invited to the dinner party and at least 1740 guests were present at the ball. At the same time, an incident occurred. Nelson's eighteen-year-old stepson publicly reproached his adoptive father for cheating on his wife with Lady Hamilton. The last campaign somewhat upset Horatio's health, and he gladly accepted Lady Hamilton's invitation to rest in Castel Mare.

When the affairs of the service forced Nelson to leave Naples, in his absence he transferred power to Emma Hamilton. Once she received a deputation from the island of Malta and granted their requests. At the request of Nelson, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Russian Emperor Paul I sent her a Maltese cross in December 1799. But soon Lord Hamilton was recalled from his post as envoy to London. Nelson followed his beloved. Maria Caroline accompanied them to Vienna. In the capital of Great Britain, Emma Hamilton was greeted with hostility.

On January 31, 1801, Lady Hamilton gave birth to Nelson's daughter, Horatia. In the autumn of the same year, Nelson bought Merton Place, a small decrepit house on the outskirts of what is now Wimbledon. There he lived openly with Emma, ​​Sir William and Emma's mother, this menage a trois,"marriage for three" did not leave the public indifferent. Newspapers covered her every move, what outfits she wore, how her house was decorated, and even the dinner party menu. However, the former beauty left her - Emma became stout. Nelson did not like the active social life that his beloved craved. Emma turned down an offer from the Royal Opera of Madrid to sing for money on her stage. Lady Hamilton and Nelson tried to start a new, quiet life.

In April 1803, Lord Hamilton died in the arms of Emma and Nelson. The lord's fortune passed to his only heir, Sir Greville, and his wife got only things and a lump sum. Two weeks after the funeral, Greville asked Emma to find another place for herself. Outraged by his behavior, Nelson gives Emma Merton Place and gives her a monthly annuity. In early 1804, she gave birth to Nelson's second child. The girl died shortly after birth. Out of desperation, Emma began to gamble. If Horatio gets a divorce, then she could marry him.

Before the famous Battle of Trafalgar, which turned out to be the last for the admiral, Nelson added one more clause to his will: "The only favor that I ask from my Sovereign and from my homeland is concern for the fate of Lady Hamilton and little Horace." The government ignored the request of the national hero. A generous hand was awarded to Nelson's widow and relatives, and his beloved woman and daughter were on the verge of poverty. Emma spent almost a year in a debtor's prison. In 1811, her mother died, who was always with her and earned the respect of all Emma's acquaintances. Fleeing from creditors, Lady Hamilton and her daughter Horace fled to France. In January 1815, Emma fell ill with bronchitis, which turned into pneumonia. Above the bed of the dying woman hung two portraits - of her mother and of Nelson. Weeping at her deathbed, Horace never publicly admits that she was the daughter of Emma Hamilton.