A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hockin, Henry

1751571A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Hockin, HenryWilliam Richard O'Byrne

HOCKIN. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 17; h-p., 24.)

Henry Hockin was born 21 April, 1794. His father was a banker; and his mother a sister of the late Sir Wm. Adams.

This officer entered the Navy, 10 June, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Superb 74, Capt. (subsequently Rear-Admiral) Rich. Goodwin Keats, under whom, after serving at the blockade of Rochefort, he attended the expedition to Copenhagen in Aug. and Sept. 1807, was present at the embarkation from Nyeborg of the Marquis de la Romana and his army, 11 Aug. 1808, and assisted as Midshipman at the bombardment of Flushing in Aug. 1809. He was next, from Nov. 1809 to Aug. 1810, borne at Spithead on the books of the Puissant 74, Capts. Robt. Hall and John Irwin; after which he rejoined Rear-Admiral Keats on board the Milford 74, and continned to serve with him in that ship and in the Hibernia 120, at the defence of Cadiz (where he participated in the duties of the flotilla) and off Toulon, until Sept. 1812. During the two following years we find him attached to the Franchise 36, Capt. Rich. Buck, by whom, with a view to co-operating with the Spanish patriots, he was intrusted with the command of a boat, armed with a brass 6-pounder, for the purpose of annoying the French land-convoys on their way from the foot of the Pyrenees to Barcelona. On leaving the Franchise, Mr. Hockin successively joined the Meander 38, Capt. John Bastard, and Elizabeth 74, bearing the flag of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming, on the Gibraltar and Cadiz stations. In June, 1815, after having cruized for five months off Lisbon as Acting-Lieutenant of the Jasper 10, Capt. Thos. Carew, he took up a commission dated on 17 of the previous Feb. With the exception of an appointment in the Coast Guard, which he held from 13 Nov. 1833 until 1841, he has since been on half-pay.

Lieut. Hockin married Miss Elizabeth Dodd, of Cheshire, and by that lady has issue one son.