Lord Nelson and Earl St Vincent: Prize fighters

Abstract

The lengthy prize litigation over the proceeds of Spanish treasure conducted between 1801 and 1803 involving Lord Nelson and Earl St Vincent is often referred to, but little understood. Using contemporaneous records, correspondence and law reports, this article considers the original prize captures that gave rise to the dispute, the tactics adopted by the litigating parties, the issues in the litigation and how it progressed, through the first instance decisions in the Court of Common Pleas to the final judgment of the King's Bench and its aftermath.