A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hamilton, Arthur Philip

1736022A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Hamilton, Arthur PhilipWilliam Richard O'Byrne

HAMILTON. (Captain, 1816. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)

Arthur Philip Hamilton entered the Navy, in Oct. 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board La Topaze 36, Capts. Stephen G. Church and Robt. Honyman, .stationed in the West Indies, where he attained the rating of Midshipman in Sept. 1801. Returning home at the peace on board the Raven brig, Capt. Edm. Saunders, he joined for a short period the Endymion 40, Capts. Henry Garrett and John Larmour, lying at Portsmouth. He then served for two years on the Newfoundland and Channel stations in the Isis 50, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Jas. Gambier; and, while next attached, from June, 1804, to Oct. 1806, to the Athenienne 64, Capts. Fras. Fayerman and John Giffard, visited China, and also the Mediterranean, where he assisted, as Master’s Mate, at the defence of Gaeta. On 26 Dec. 1806, after an intermediate servitude with Capt. Giffard in the Zealous 74, off Cadiz, Mr. Hamilton became Acting-Lieutenant of the Ajax 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood, in which ship he continued, until she was burnt, off the Dardanells, 14 Feb. 1807. Being officially promoted on 28 of the following April, he was next appointed, on 18 July in the same year, and 16 Aug. 1809, to La Sybille 38, Capt. Clotworthy Upton (under whom he contributed to the capture, 16 Aug. 1808, of the French 18-gun sloop Espiègle), and Caledonia 120, bearing the flag, on the Cork, Channel, Cadiz, and Basque Roads stations, of Admirals Lord Gambier, Fras. Pickmore, and Sir Harry Burrard Neale. While First of the latter ship, he took command of her boats, and of those of the Valiant 74, and Armide 38, .and, on 28 Sept. 1810, had the good fortune, by dint of a well-conducted, gallant, and successful attack, to capture two brigs, and destroy a third, lying under the protection of a strong battery at Pointe du Ché, near Rochelle.[1] He was advanced to the rank of Commander on 21 of the following month, and, from 6 Nov. 1813, until posted 31 May, 1816, was employed in the Ceylon troop-ship on the North American and St. Helena stations. He accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.

Capt. Hamilton married, 26 Feb. 1828, Caroline, only child of the late Lieut.-Colonel Cook, of Chingford, co. Essex. Agents – Messrs. Oramanney.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1597.