Composed in 1806, after the death of Lord Nelson, hero of the Napoleonic Wars, and first published in 1807,[1] the poem purports to describe the ideal "man in arms" and has, through ages since, been the source of much metaphor in political and military life.

[2] He then proceeds to answer his own query: The Happy Warrior is a generous spirit, who, amidst, or, in spite of, the tasks of real life, hath done what pleased his innocent, "childish thought".

The warrior is "skilful in self-knowledge" (like the philosophers of ancient Greece, living by the famous injunction to "know one's self") and understands that the true purpose of "suffering and distress" is to grow in compassion and "tenderness".

Nelson had been famous for his loving, inspirational leadership,[4] and had, in previous battles, lost an arm and the sight in one eye, yet persisted in his pursuit of greatness.

[7] Barack Obama, after winning a second term as president, referred to Vice-President Joe Biden as "America's Happy Warrior" in his acceptance speech.