Mistress of Lord Nelson. Born Amy, Emma or Emy Lyon at Ness, Cheshire. Her early life was spent in poverty, but her beauty proved to be her fortune. She became the mistress of Charles Greville and then of Sir William Hamilton, whom she married in 1791. She met Nelson in 1793 and they had a child,Horatia. After Nelson's death, she fell into debt and moved to France to escape her creditors. Died in Calais.
Her story is well told in the 1941 film That Hamilton Woman, with Vivien Leigh playing an irresistible Emma; the Naples scenes are sumptuous.
Londonist's Scandal Mapped: The London Of Emma, Lady Hamilton contains a map of London as Emma would have plotted it.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
