Earl Nelson

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The title Earl Nelson, of Trafalgar and of Merton in the County of Surrey, was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom on 20 November 1805 for William Nelson, older brother of the late admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson.

The Earl bears the subsidiary titles of Viscount Merton, of Trafalgar and of Merton in the County of Surrey (20 November 1805), and Baron Nelson, of the Nile and of Hillborough in the County of Norfolk (18 August 1801), all in the Peerage of the UK.

Horatio Nelson was originally created Baron Nelson, of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk, in the Peerage of Great Britain, on 6 November 1798 and subsequently Viscount Nelson, of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe, in the Peerage of the UK, on 22 May 1801. Because he had no children, he was again created Baron Nelson (of the Nile and of Hillborough) on 18 August 1801, with special remainder to his father and the heirs males of his body lawfully begotten, and in default to the heirs male of Lord Nelson's sister Susannah then the heirs male of his other sister Catherine. Thus, the second barony descended to his brother upon Lord Nelson's death in 1805, the first barony and viscounty becoming extinct.

The Earldom of Nelson granted to Lord Nelson's brother in 1805, and the Viscountcy of Merton, had the same special remainder in favour of his sisters as the barony of 1801. On the death of the 1st Earl, without surviving male issue, the titles were inherited by the eldest son of Susannah.

The 1st Earl Nelson also inherited the title of Duca di Bronté in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from Viscount Nelson. As this title could pass, failing heirs male, to heirs female, on the death of the Earl his British titles passed to his sister while the Dukedom passed to his eldest daughter and then to her son Viscount Bridport.