On October 21, 1805 (today 220 years ago, at the Battle of Trafalgar) Admiral Horatio Nelson was killed in combat, shot down by a gunner from the French ship Redoutable. At about one o'clock in the afternoon, Nelson was wounded by a bullet fired about 50 meters away, which entered his left shoulder, pierced his spine between the sixth and seventh thoracic vertebrae, and lodged about five centimeters below the right shoulder blade, between the muscles of his back.

Transferred to the ship's infirmary, little could be done to save his life with the means of the time, and he died three hours after being wounded, probably as a result of a crash.

Nelson's body was placed inside a barrel of brandy mixed with camphor and myrrh, which was then tied to the mainmast of the Victory and placed under surveillance. The Victory, badly damaged during the battle, was towed to Gibraltar and, once there, the body was transferred to a lead-lined coffin filled with wine brandy, inside which it was returned to its country.

And here begins the legend... October 21, 1805 – When the barrel of brandy with Nelson dead inside arrived in Southampton, it was halfway through. The brandy was seen by the guardians who had watched over the body during the crossing —but considered heroes of warfare— they were not tried. On the contrary, history absolved them with a memorable phrase that still resonates among sailors and historians:

“The Last Toast of the Admiral.” Hahaha.