Colin White: Naval historian who became a leading authority on Nelson (obit.)

Colin White, who has died aged 57, was the Nelson scholar responsible for successfully co-ordinating the national and international celebrations marking the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005. Such was his reputation as an academic and love of his subject that he was once called the admiral's"representative on earth".

Although he spent most of his working life at the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth, he was temporarily lent in 2000 to the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which he described as"this great, national institution".

His sojourn at Greenwich was carefully planned to equip him to become director of the Royal Naval Museum in 2006.

He did much to broaden public understanding of the great admiral's life. Few who heard his after-dinner speeches, always delivered without notes, will forget his mastery of detail and ability to conjure up an atmosphere for his audience. These seemed all the more remarkable for him being severely deaf.

White was a member of the Society of Antiquaries and vice-president of the 1805 Club. He was thrilled to be recognised for his scholarship by the University of Portsmouth, first with an honorary doctorate, and then, in 2007, by his appointment as visiting professor in maritime history. He was further delighted the following year to be appointed an honorary captain in the Royal Naval Reserve.