In search of Nelson’s spy: a research case study

Journal article

In the summer of 1803 Admiral Lord Nelson arrived on the coast of Catalonia as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet. In addition to leading the blockade of Toulon and other operations of his fleet, for the first few months he managed himself the day-to-day business of keeping his ships in good order, including ordering in detail the supply of food, water and wine for the 10,000 men under his command. At this time he made the acquaintance of Edward Gayner, an English wine merchant living in the strategically important port of Rosas, who supplied the Royal Navy in the western Mediterranean with local produce. This article describes the author's research into Gayner's life and work at Rosas, and presents new evidence to support the claim that Gayner provided Nelson with important confidential information concerning French military and naval movements. The article offers an outline of Gayner's life and describes the primary and secondary research sources and methodology, including the use of previously unpublished manuscripts. The author is completing a monograph about Gayner which will present all the known facts and a calendar of all Gayner's identified correspondence, to be published in English and Catalan later in 2010.

Authors: Reay, J

• Alternative title: In search of Nelson's spy: an historical research case study
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: 1805 Club
• Journal: rafalgar Chronicle
• Volume: 19
• Issue: n/a
• Pages: 1-15
• Publication date: 2009-01-01
• Edition: Accepted Manuscript
• ISSN: 978-1-902392-19-6
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mediterranean; Napoleonic Wars; Edward Gayner; Nelson; Royal Navy
• Subjects: History of Britain and Europe; History of War; International,imperial and global history