Nelson’s Blood
Nelson’s Blood is Jackspeak for rum. Jackspeak is the slang that has developed over more than four hundred years in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. ‘Jack’ derives from Jack Tar, one of the nicknames for RN sailors.
So, why is rum called Nelson’s Blood? It has long been recounted that when Admiral Lord Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar, his body was preserved in a barrel of spirits, mixed with camphor and myrrh. In this way it was returned to England on HMS Victory, to lie in state in Greenwich before being incarcerated in St Paul’s Cathedral crypt.
The preserving spirit was brandy, not rum, but rum was the spirit introduced to the Royal Navy in 1655 as an alternative to beer, and water. Rum was unlikely to deteriorate and grow algae on long voyages. The daily rum ration, or tot, was distributed around midday, at ‘Up Spirits,’ to which a common response from the sailors was, ‘Stand fast the Holy Ghost.’
Though often referred to as Nelson’s Blood, rum is frequently called Pusser’s Rum. A pusser is naval slang for a purser, the crew member responsible for a ship’s logistics, and therefore the person accountable for supplying the daily tot. ‘Pusser’ implies exemplary service.
The legend of Nelson’s Blood is that sailors drilled holes in the barrel of spirits containing his body and drained off the liquid to drink!
In December 1969, just over three hundred years after the daily tot was instituted, the Admiralty became increasingly concerned that imbibing strong spirits at lunchtime was making it dangerous when sailors were operating complex onboard systems. The daily rum ration was about to become history. The final tot to the fleet was poured a few months later, on ‘Black Tot Day.’ Any remaining rum rations were auctioned off.
Nine years later, the Admiralty agreed to rum being created from the original Royal Navy recipe. It was called Pusser’s Rum. As part of the agreement, the Royal Navy Sailors’ Fund, now the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), receives a donation from each sale.
Ee lass, tha does tell some rum tales.
ReplyDeleteSifting truth from legends is fun.
DeleteWhile I've never heard I either "Pusser's Rum" or "Nelson's Blood," it certainly makes for an interesting and colorful chapter in your history books. I'm a bit surprised that the practice of a daily tot lasted until 1969.
ReplyDeleteTradition dies hard . . .
DeleteIf one tot affected their afternoon performance, it must have been very, very strong.
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteWhat a story! I knew that onboard ships, a daily ration of rum was handed out, but I didn't know the bit about Nelson's body.
ReplyDeleteImagine living conditions where it is safer to drink spirits than water! And yet, it has been that for a long time, and I suspect in way too many parts of the world it still is.
It was Nelson's wish that his body be returned to England, rather than buried at sea.
DeleteIt is deplorable that fresh water is unavailable to so many in this world, and even worse that spirits are a better alternative to dirty water. There are ways to make water potable.
I suppose the rum was the treat handed out each day, did they all have an afternoon nap to sleep it of? And what did they drink through the day?
ReplyDeleteThe tot of rum was a morale booster and was served twice a day. It had medicinal properties, too. It kept better than low-alcohol beer and was mixed with water and lime to be drunk throughout the day.
DeleteComing from and army family, I was not away of the naval names.
ReplyDeleteArmy slang is interesting, too.
DeleteInteresting history. Ewww on the embalming method. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteNo refrigeration in those days.
DeleteMy brother served in the Royal Navy from the age of 17 for the next 9 years. That was in the 60s. Yes he had a daily tot of rum and a ration of cigarettes. Heavy drinking certainly wasn't discouraged and he spent the rest of his life fighting alcoholism.
ReplyDeleteThat's very sad. My father and brother-in-law also served in the Royal Navy for many years. My father was practically tee-total but would drink on occasions 'to be sociable.'
DeleteYo ho ho and a bottle of rum .. 🎶 🎵..
ReplyDeleteCan't stand rum!
DeleteThank you for sharing the interesting piece of history. Have a happy weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI used to teach a ghoulish swa shanty to the older children; ' oh a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn't do you any harm' to the year 5/6 clwhich they say with great enthusiasm and relish!. Based on the rale that the sailors used to help themselves to the rum from the barrel Nelson’s body had been put into....
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame it's not true. I do like sea shanties, though, and have a book of them . . . somewhere . . .
DeleteA fascinating piece of naval folklore, rich in tradition, myth, and maritime ritual.
ReplyDeleteAll folk lore is fascinating, and learning the origins helps our understanding.
DeleteA fascinating history. Surprising that the daily tot of rum continued till 1969 . Rum is too sweet for me now. I used to love it with some coke.
ReplyDeleteI don't like rum at all. Very dull, me!
DeleteI live and learn more than I even wanted to know!
ReplyDeleteMost legends don't bear close inspection.
DeleteVery interesting. I can't imagine drinking from a barrel that a dead body is being store in though. EWW
ReplyDeleteNo, It's a good thing it didn't happen.
DeleteWell, now this is something I'd never heard of; quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteAll organizations have traditions and subcultures, some more palatable than others.
ReplyDeleteI had heard of the daily tradition but not either of the names.
ReplyDeleteI grew up knowing about pussers, (pursers) but not the rum, my father being virtually teetotal, despite a naval career.
DeleteWhat an interesting post. Mick enjoys a glass of rum, he has quite a large rum collection and likes to pick up a bottle as a souvenir from places we visit.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting hobby to have, and a great memento of places visited.
DeleteAlways love visiting here and learning something new each day....good post..
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shug.
ReplyDeletehaving been to Greenwich several times ,taking in the entire floor devoted to Nelson ,I was gobsmacked ! History of Nelson is astonishing and his tiny suit with damage from battle ,would fit a ten year old. Nelson's blood , ewww.
ReplyDeleteWe forget, or don't realise, just how small these great characters of history were. Greenwich is wonderful.
DeleteI like to think that my Royal Navy uncle had his daily tot of rum before a U-boat sunk his ship in July 1940.
ReplyDeleteNaval history is quite riveting. Explains my appreciation of Patrick O'Brian's work.
Bless him. Life was fleeting. My father's shipmate was killed standing next to him. Not a scratch on my father.
DeleteThank you for all the historical information. I really enjoyed what you wrote. Have a very nice day today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicole.
DeleteI'm amazed it lasted as a tradition until 1969!
ReplyDeleteSlow on the uptake, sometimes . . .
DeleteMany thanks for an interesting Saturday afternoon read.
ReplyDeleteBack in my youth I recall drinking rum and coke!
All the best Jan
I've never had rum and coke - not likely to, either, as I don't like rum.
DeleteI understand now why pirates are always so merry, it's the daily tot (or three or more) of rum. I didn't know about Lord Nelson's barrel preservation. I like the rum flavoured truffles available in pretty boxes at Christmas though I haven't bought any in years.
ReplyDeleteDon't deny yourself small treats!
DeleteVery interesting, I know Rum only from New Year it was a drink where a sugar cone was doused with rum, placed on tongs, lit, and dripped into hot wine. That was a typical German New Year's drink. One bowl and everybody was under the table !
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting tradition. I can imagine the result.
Deletethis is quite the story to follow, I think I did well with it and laughed out loud at Yorkshires Ee lass, tha does tell some rum tales. I AGREE... STILL LAUGHING
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Delete😊
ReplyDeleteThe legend of Nelson's Blood is gross but I don't mind a little rum, especially in a cake.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how myths and legends arise.
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