The third son of John Orde, of Morpeth, Northumberland, and the brother of Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton, he is remembered as a professional enemy of Nelson.

[1] Orde joined the Royal Navy in 1766, gained the rank of rear-admiral in 1795, vice-admiral in 1799 and eventually Admiral of the Red.

He served throughout the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and was promoted to post captain on 19 May 1778, making him senior to Nelson by less than a month.

In early 1798, Orde was appointed to the Mediterranean fleet as third in command under John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent.

Had Nelson not won such an extraordinary victory at the Battle of the Nile, Jervis may have faced a court martial for not having supported Orde.

St Vincent left the Admiralty in 1804 and Orde was offered command of a newly formed squadron off Cadiz.

[4] Orde's squadron of six ships of the line were stationed off Cadiz when Villeneuve arrived with the Toulon fleet in April 1805.

[12] Although technically correct, Orde's behaviour was not in accordance with the country's mood at the time and he was ordered to strike his flag.