Ralph Willett Miller Ralph Willett Miller ( 24 January 1762 – 14 May 1799 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy . He served during the American Revolutionary and the French Revolutionary Wars , eventually rising to the rank of Captain . He was one of Vice - Admiral Horatio Nelson ' s Band of Brothers at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 . Family and early life . Miller was born on 24 January 1762 , the son of an American loyalist . His family ' s allegiance during the American Revolution caused the loss of their property and possessions . Miller was sent to England and entered the navy in 1778 , serving aboard with the fleet under Rear - Admiral James Gambier . He later served during the war as part of fleets under Samuel Barrington , George Rodney , Samuel Hood and Thomas Graves . He fought in a number of engagements , and was wounded three times . He served under Commodore William Hotham , and after the Battle of Fort Royal , Miller was promoted by Rodney to be lieutenant aboard . He was present at the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781 , during which the " Terrible " was badly damaged , and later scuttled . Miller returned to the West Indies with Hood , and from there he went to England , arriving in late 1782 , and by 20 December he was serving aboard . French Revolutionary Wars . By the outbreak of the wars with revolutionary France Miller was aboard the 98 - gun second rate in the Mediterranean . After the end of the Siege of Toulon , Sir Sidney Smith placed Miller in charge of destroying the French ships and the arsenal . After the British withdrawal , Hood moved him to , where Miller distinguished himself leading actions against the French held towns on Corsica . He volunteered to lead an assault on the French ships moored at Golfe Jouan , and was appointed to command " Poulette " and ordered to fit her as fireship , with the intention of firing the fleet . He eventually made five attempts to take her into the anchorage , but the wind prevented him on each occasion . He was assigned to command HMS " Mignonne " on 12 January 1796 , but the commander in chief , Sir John Jervis instead moved him to . Jervis assigned Miller to the Adriatic , but on the arrival of Commodore Horatio Nelson , Miller became Nelson ' s flag captain aboard . Miller commanded " Captain " at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 14 February 1797 . He followed Nelson aboard in May 1797 , and was with him during his time with the inshore squadron . He participated in the assault on Cadiz in June , and was involved in the unsuccessful Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in July , Miller leading the landing parties from " Theseus " . Miller and the " Theseus " were assigned to sail under Nelson , by now aboard . Miller was therefore present at the Battle of the Nile on 1 August , where he was wounded in the face , and was afterwards sent to Gibraltar with Captain Sir James Saumarez , in command of the captured French prizes . Miller and the " Theseus " returned to the Eastern Mediterranean in December , now acting as part of Sir Sidney Smith ' s fleet . He supported Smith at the Siege of Acre , and bombarded French positions between Acre and Jaffa . Death . News had reached Smith that a number of French frigates were preparing to sail from Alexandria to Jaffa to deliver stores and weapons for the French army . Smith ordered Miller to intercept them . Miller was preparing his ship to depart when an unknown accident occurred . Lieutenant England wrote in a report to Sir Sidney Smith It is with extreme concern I have to acquaint you , that yesterday morning , at half - past nine o ' clock , twenty 36 - howitzer shells , and fifty 18 - pounder shells , had been got up and prepared ready for service by Captain Miller ' s order . . . when in an instant . . . the whole was on fire and a dreadful explosion took place . The ship was severely damaged , her aft part almost totally destroyed and the rest on fire . The crew fought the fire and were able to save the ship , but as Lieutenant England reported Our loss from the explosion , I here lament , has been very great ; and Captain Miller , I am sorry to add , is of the number killed , which amount to 20 ; drowned , 9 ; and 45 wounded . Nelson wrote on learning of Miller ' s death that he is not only a most excellent and gallant officer , but the only truly virtuous man that I ever saw . Another of Nelson ' s band of brothers who had fought at the Nile , Edward Berry , suggested that a memorial to Miller be created . Nelson supported the proposal , and one was sculpted by John Flaxman , and installed in St Paul ' s Cathedral . Miller left a widow and two young daughters . The government awarded his family a pension of £100 a year .