Emergencies and World Disasters
The Day the Lord Nelson Vanished: Three Ships, No Trace
21 min•24 juli 2026
Om avsnittet
The Day the Lord Nelson Vanished: Three Ships, No Trace
A British East Indiaman recorded her last known position at 8°30′ S, 80° E and then disappeared without a trace - no wreckage, no bodies, no distress call. The Lord Nelson had survived a 90-minute privateer attack, two captains' deaths, and a convoy loss before sailing into the Indian Ocean stripped of experienced hands; how did three ships vanish from the same stretch of sea with no verdict ever reached?
In this episode, we tell the voyage history, attacks, and final recorded moments of the Lord Nelson and the contemporaneous losses of the Experiment and Glory, asking what the ship’s past-and the decisions made by naval officers-reveal about her fate.
Person: Robert Spottiswoode
Date: 21 November 1808
Location: 8°30′ S, 80° E
Event: Capture by French privateer Bellone on summer 1803 and recovery on 26 August 1803
Case: Disappearance of Lord Nelson, Experiment, and Glory with no inquiry verdict
- Last logged position recorded on 21 November 1808 at 8 degrees 30 minutes south, 80 degrees east.
- Crew numbered roughly 110 men plus passengers, including a lieutenant-colonel of the Bengal Army, his wife, and three children.
- Engagement with the French privateer Bellone lasted approximately 90 minutes, leaving five dead and 31 wounded aboard the Lord Nelson.
- French prize crew of 41 men under lieutenant Fougie took the Lord Nelson before she was recaptured on 26 August 1803.
- Salvage award of one-sixth the vessel’s value was divided among the Seagull, the Colossus, and three other ships-of-the-line after the Lord Nelson arrived at Plymouth on 14 September 1803.
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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
A British East Indiaman recorded her last known position at 8°30′ S, 80° E and then disappeared without a trace - no wreckage, no bodies, no distress call. The Lord Nelson had survived a 90-minute privateer attack, two captains' deaths, and a convoy loss before sailing into the Indian Ocean stripped of experienced hands; how did three ships vanish from the same stretch of sea with no verdict ever reached?
In this episode, we tell the voyage history, attacks, and final recorded moments of the Lord Nelson and the contemporaneous losses of the Experiment and Glory, asking what the ship’s past-and the decisions made by naval officers-reveal about her fate.
Person: Robert Spottiswoode
Date: 21 November 1808
Location: 8°30′ S, 80° E
Event: Capture by French privateer Bellone on summer 1803 and recovery on 26 August 1803
Case: Disappearance of Lord Nelson, Experiment, and Glory with no inquiry verdict
- Last logged position recorded on 21 November 1808 at 8 degrees 30 minutes south, 80 degrees east.
- Crew numbered roughly 110 men plus passengers, including a lieutenant-colonel of the Bengal Army, his wife, and three children.
- Engagement with the French privateer Bellone lasted approximately 90 minutes, leaving five dead and 31 wounded aboard the Lord Nelson.
- French prize crew of 41 men under lieutenant Fougie took the Lord Nelson before she was recaptured on 26 August 1803.
- Salvage award of one-sixth the vessel’s value was divided among the Seagull, the Colossus, and three other ships-of-the-line after the Lord Nelson arrived at Plymouth on 14 September 1803.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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