Brontë & Nelson

Some days ago we posted information on the Brontë String Quartet in which we remembered the origin of the adoption of the name Brontë by Patrick in 1802.
In a press release of the Brontë Society of last July the story is fully explained:

Patrick Brontë, father to the famous Brontë sisters, is believed to have changed his name from ‘Brunty’ to ‘Brontë’ in honour of the great Horatio Nelson who was bestowed the title of Duke of Bronte by the King of Naples as a thank you for Nelson restoring him to his throne in 1799. Brontë is the name of an Italian estate in Eastern Sicily, close to Mount Etna which was granted to Nelson by the King.

Precisely, in a current exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in London ("Nelson and Napoleon" until 13th November 2005) the leatherbound 'Deed of Title for the Dukedom of Brontë" is on display - it was presented to Nelson by the King to show his gratitude after the victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, and allows Nelson to sign himself ‘Nelson & Bronte’.

'The Deed of Title for the Dukedom of Bronte' Pic © Zvi Meitar

Categories: Art-Exhibitions, Brontëana