Maurice Suckling

Captain Maurice Suckling (4 May 1726 – July 1778) was a Royal Navy officer who was instrumental in the training of his nephew, Horatio Nelson.

Seven Years War
Suckling was the commander of Dreadnought in action in the Battle of Cap-Français off Saint-Domingue on 21 October 1757.

It was Suckling who was responsible for Nelson's early training. Young Nelson was entered on the books of the newly commissioned Raisonnable, commanded by Suckling, and joined the crew several months later, in early 1771. Suckling was transferred to the Nore guardship and arranged for his nephew to sail to the West Indies in a merchantman, gaining experience of seamanship and life at sea. Suckling also used his influence to have Nelson appointed to the HMS Carcass (1759) for a 1773 expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. Suckling became Comptroller of the Navy in 1775 and was able to speed Nelson's career. He continued to use his influence on Nelson's behalf until his death in 1778.

Family
Captain Maurice Suckling's sister was Catherine Suckling (1725–67), wife of Reverend Edmund Nelson. Maurice and Catherine were the grandnephew and grandniece of the first British Prime Minister Robert Walpole.

Suckling's nephew, Lieutenant Maurice William Suckling (1761–1820), also served with his uncle. Suckling introduced his other nephew Horatio Nelson into the Royal Navy at age 12. Horatio Nelson would later become Britain's most beloved hero in history.