Catherine Suckling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Suckling
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The 18-year-old Catherine Suckling, a copy of a portrait by John Theodore Heins
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| Born | 9 May 1725 Barsham, Suffolk
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| Died | 26 December 1767 (aged 42) Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk
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| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) |
Edmund Nelson
(m. 1749) |
| Children | 11, including William and Horatio |
Catherine Suckling (born May 9, 1725 – died December 26, 1767) was a British woman known for being the mother of Horatio Nelson. Horatio Nelson became one of Britain's most famous naval heroes. Catherine had eleven children, and Horatio was her third son who survived past infancy. Her life was important because of the family she came from and the large family she raised.
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Catherine Suckling's Early Life and Family Connections
Catherine Suckling was born on May 9, 1725, in a place called Barsham in Suffolk. She was the oldest child and the only daughter of Reverend Maurice Shelton Suckling. Her father was a church leader who worked at Westminster. Her mother was Ann Mary Turner.
Catherine's father passed away when she was only five years old. After this, her mother moved the family to Beccles. It was there that Catherine met a church minister named Reverend Edmund Nelson. They got married on May 11, 1749.
Catherine's marriage to Edmund was good for him because of her family's important connections. Her father's side of the family was related to a famous poet, Sir John Suckling. Her mother's family, the Walpoles, were very powerful. They were known as the Earls of Orford. Catherine was even a grandniece of Sir Robert Walpole, who was a very important politician. The Walpole family's influence helped Catherine's brothers, Maurice and William, have successful careers.
Raising a Large Family
After they got married, Catherine and Edmund Nelson moved to Swaffham. There, Catherine had three children. Sadly, two of them died when they were very young. Their third child, Maurice, survived.
Later, the family moved to Sporle. On June 12, 1755, Catherine gave birth to their first daughter, Susanna. In the same year, a relative named Horace Walpole offered Edmund a job as a church leader in Burnham Thorpe. Edmund accepted the job, and the family settled in the rectory, which was the church house.
Their son William was born on April 20, 1757. Then, on September 29, 1758, Catherine gave birth to Horatio. They named him Horatio after Horace Walpole, who was also Horatio's godfather. Horatio was a weak child when he was born. His father, Edmund, worried he might not live long enough for his public baptism. So, Horatio was baptized privately on October 8.
More children followed: Ann was born on September 20, 1760; Edmund on June 4, 1762; Suckling on January 5, 1764; and Catherine on March 19, 1767. Another boy, George, was born in 1765 but passed away when he was only three months old.
Catherine's Passing and Her Legacy
Catherine Suckling passed away on December 26, 1767, when she was 42 years old. She left behind her husband, Edmund, and eight children. Edmund was very sad and buried her four days later in the church at Burnham Thorpe. He never married again. Catherine's mother, Ann, also passed away shortly after Catherine.
Maurice Suckling, Catherine's brother, visited the family after the funerals. He saw that Edmund was heartbroken and worried about his children's future. Edmund had started asking relatives for help to make sure his children could get good educations and jobs. Maurice promised to help one of the boys. He used his influence as a naval captain to do so. This help led to the start of Horatio's very successful career in the Royal Navy.
Horatio was only nine years old when his mother died. But he remembered her with love. He once quoted a line from a play called Henry V when he thought of her, saying it brought tears to his eyes. He also remembered that his mother disliked the French.
Images for kids
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The 18-year-old Catherine Suckling, a copy of a portrait by John Theodore Heins
