In late June 1801 Frances, Lady Nelson was informed that her husband, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson, having been released from his post as Commander-in-Chief in the Baltic, was shortly expected home in Britain.

She had not seen him for six months and, during that time, Nelson had made it clear that he considered their marriage was at an end.

However, his impending arrival home was met with both excitement and trepidation.

Fanny NelsonFanny Nelson

On June 26 she wrote to Nelson’s close friend, Alexander Davison: “I love him I would do anything in the world to convince him of my affection – I as truly sensible of my good fortune in having such a husband – surely I have angered him – it was done unconsciously and without the least intension – I can truly say, my wish, my desire was to please him.

Researcher and writer Christine Mason’s interested in the life of Lord Nelson’s first wife, Fanny Nelson, began almost by accident.

She was intrigued by the memorial to Fanny’s first husband, Josiah Nisbet, in St. Lawrence’s Church at Stratford-sub-Castle, and that she had lived in Salisbury.

She started writing about her in fictional scenes, for a friend too ill in hospital to be able to concentrate on a full length book.

So when Warminster Local History Society asked her back for a repeat visit, she put together a non-fictional account of Fanny Nelson.

She said: “Although there are certain gaps, so much documentation of that period survives in personal letters and of course naval records, it is almost possible to present her story in her words and those people closely connected to her.”

Christine will be presenting her talk at Salisbury History Festival on Saturday, August 31.

Tickets are available from the Rocketship and History bookshops, Salisbury.