n the early 1800s, Britain was at war with nearly everyone: the French, Americans, Spanish, and Irish. Numerous conflicts raged in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. There was hardly a country the British were not attacking. The battles most prominent in the national psyche are those of the Napoleonic Wars. Austen’s newspapers were filled with reports of military action and accounts of individual acts of courage.

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The Trafalgar Day celebrations commemorate Britain’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and honour the renowned commander, Admiral Nelson. During the gala, a guest of honour offers a toast to the Immortal Memory. For our advertisement, we imagine actress Sarah Siddons commissioning a gown inspired by Nelson’s own coat, standing poised amid the whirls of movement from the other guests.