Nelson was celebrated as the first British flag officer in centuries to lead a boarding party, although the claim is probably not literally correct. Senior officers in other actions may have crossed with later waves even if they did not lead the first men over. The broader issue is whether an experienced commander should place himself at the very tip of the spear when his value lies in coordinating ships, logistics, and the whole force. Captain was immobilized and badly damaged, so Nelson's boarding attack can be read as a calculated Hail Mary rather than a general model for flag-officer behavior.
Notable Point · 41:29-43:52
Should a flag officer lead the boarding party?
Nelson's personal leadership at Cape St Vincent succeeded, raising the question of whether a trained force coordinator should accept that much front-line risk.