Editing Horatio (section)

== History ==

Prominent English-language examples of the name "Horatio" include:
[[Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury|Horatio de Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury]] (1565–1635), an English military leader, was one of the earliest English holders of the name, born 34 years before [[Shakespeare]] invented the character [[Horatio (Hamlet)|Horatio]] in his  1599/1601 play ''[[Hamlet]]''. He was a grandfather of [[Horatio Townshend, 1st Viscount Townshend]] (1630–1687), whose son [[Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend]] (a ward of Col. [[Robert Walpole (colonel)|Robert Walpole]] (1650–1700) of [[Houghton Hall]] in Norfolk) married Dorothy Walpole, one of the latter's daughters and a sister of [[Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole]] (1678–1757) (and of [[Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford]] (1676–1745), the Prime Minister). The name Horatio was subsequently much used by the Walpole family and by the 1st Baron Walpole's illustrious younger cousin Admiral [[Horatio Nelson]] (1758–1805), his father's great-great grandson, born one year after 1st Baron Walpole's death. The 1st Baron Walpole's son, [[Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford|Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, 2nd Baron Walpole]] (1723–1809) served as a [[Godparent|godfather]] at the christening of Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1758, who for that reason, as was common, was given his name.<ref>Pettigrew, Thomas, ''Memoirs of the Life of Vice-Admiral, Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B., Duke of Bronté'', London, 1849, p.1</ref> The Admiral died without issue, but his great-nephew [[Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson]] (1823–1913) (born with the surname "Bolton", eventual heir and great-nephew of the Admiral's elder brother [[William Nelson, 1st Earl Nelson]], heir of the Admiral) carried on the name.