Lady Hamilton

While married to William Hamilton, the Ambassador to Naples, Lady Emma was introduced to Admiral Nelson. Though the port of Naples was avoiding involvement in the war between England and France, Emma was able to convince her friend, Queen Caroline, to allow Nelson's ship to resupply there. Damaged from war with a disabled arm and a blind eye, Emma took pity on the admiral and soon that pity led to more as she became his mistress in an odd relationship carried on under Sir William's own roof. Eventually, after Sir William's death, Emma fathered a child by Nelson. Society as a whole did not react unfavorably to the supposed "god child" of Nelson's as his hero status from the victory at Trafalgar stood out in the public's mind.