[marktwain]

He was born in America to British parents, and left as the Revoolution started.

It is a stretch to call him American.

[Charles Martel]

There's something else odd about this story... HMS Swiftsure was, I believe, a Royal Navy vessel that had been captured by the French several years before Trafalgar. It was in the battle, firing *at* Nelson's ships.

Perhaps the Brits launched another warship and gave it that name in the interim, or something. I'm sure that someone here knows.