Alexander John Scott Reverend Dr . Alexander John Scott ( 1768 – 1840 ) was an Anglican chaplain who served in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . He served as Horatio Nelson ' s personal chaplain at the Battle of Trafalgar , and had previously served as his private secretary . Scott was a close friend of Nelson , and was with him as he died aboard . Early life . Scott was born in 1768 , the son of a lieutenant in the navy . He was educated at Charterhouse , and after gaining a scholarship , he attended St John ' s College , Cambridge , graduating from there in 1792 . He was ordained in 1793 and joined the navy that year as a chaplain . He was initially assigned to , which was part of the Mediterranean fleet under Admiral Samuel Hood . During his education he had become fluent in French , Spanish and Italian . Meeting Nelson . Scott first met Nelson while in the Mediterranean . Nelson was at this time captain of the 64 - gun . Scott was offered the position of Nelson ' s chaplain , but declined it , instead moving aboard the 98 - gun , followed by the 100 - gun , then under Sir Hyde Parker . He was present at Nelson ' s victory at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 , this time aboard the 98 - gun . After the battle was over , Scott helped to draw up the treaties subsequently presented to the Danish , and accompanied Nelson ' s party as an interpreter . After Parker ' s recall , Nelson asked for Scott to join him , but Scott could not bear to leave Parker and returned to England with him while Nelson remained in the Baltic . West Indies . Scott was then assigned to the frigate which was sent to the West Indies , serving with Admiral John Thomas Duckworth . Duckworth used Scott ' s linguistic abilities to help in translating documents and to spy and eavesdrop whilst visiting foreign ports . On one occasion he brought Scott to dine with him and the French general Charles Leclerc , in order to try to ascertain the French intentions towards the Caribbean . In 1803 , whilst aboard the " Topaze " , Scott was the victim of an accident that left him severely shaken . He was struck by lightning while sleeping in his cabin , the bolt also igniting some powder and cartridges that were stored above him . The explosion and electric shock knocked out several teeth , injured his jaw and affected his hearing and eyesight . He recovered , but was continually thereafter affected by his nerves . Nelson and Trafalgar . Nelson arranged for Scott to be transferred to his flagship , , in 1804 as his foreign secretary . He had decided that Scott ' s gift for languages would make him a desirable addition to his staff . Also aboard the " Victory " was another man named Scott , this was John Scott , Nelson ' s personal secretary . Nelson solved the problem by terming Alexander Scott , now installed as his chaplain , as ' Doctor Scott ' . Scott was not actually a Doctor at this point , the award of the Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Cambridge came after Trafalgar . Scott often spent his time aboard " Victory " reading newspapers and letters captured from foreign prizes to Nelson . Scott initially went below at the start of the battle to be with the wounded as they were brought to the cockpit . He soon became overwhelmed with the sights and sounds , and began to head up to the deck for fresh air . On the way he passed a figure being carried below to the surgeon , and learnt that it was Nelson . He remained with Nelson during his last hours , supporting him and rubbing his chest . After Nelson had died and the surgeon , William Beatty was summoned , Scott was found to be still rubbing the chest . He accompanied the body back to England , was with Nelson during the lying in state at Greenwich Hospital and attended the funeral processions and the ceremony in St Paul ' s Cathedral . He later wrote of his friend : Men are not always themselves and put on their behaviour with their clothes , but if you live with a man on board ship for years , if you are continually with him in his cabin , your mind will soon find out how to appreciate him . I could forever tell of the qualities of this beloved man , Horatio Nelson . I have not shed a tear before the 21st October , and since whenever I am alone , I am quite like a child . Nelson had hoped that if he were to die , that George Rose , then Vice - President of the Board of Trade , would help Scott with money . He also wished for his brother William Nelson to surrender his prebendal stall at Canterbury Cathedral to Scott , when William Nelson inherited . William however declined to . After Trafalgar . Scott lived a peaceful life after the battle . In 1807 the 35 - year - old Scott married the 17 - year - old Mary Frances Ryder . The newly - weds moved into the vicarage at [ Southminster ] where Scott assumed the curacy to supplement his income as Rector of nearby Southminster . Alexander and Mary had a son who died shortly after birth and two daughters , Horatia and Margaret . Mary died in 1811 having been weakened by the birth of her son . Scott ' s daughter Margaret became a best selling author under her married name of Margaret Gatty . Scott also became Chaplain to the Prince Regent in 1816 and then the incumbent of a government living at Catterick . He died at Ecclesfield , Yorkshire in 1840 , at the age of 72 , and was buried in the churchyard of the Church of St . Mary , Ecclesfield