in the West Indies, where he captured two privateers, Capt. Hamilton, on his arrival with despatches at Lisbon, was posted, 11 June, 1797, into the San Josef 110, from which ship he soon exchanged into the Surprise, of 32 guns and 197 men. In July, 1798, having been previously employed in escorting the trade to and from Newfoundland, he was ordered with convoy to Jamaica. While on that station he took and destroyed upwards of 80 armed and other vessels, of which those that were preserved sold for no less a sum than 200,000l. On one occasion he chased a privateer and her prize into Laguna, on the north side of the island of Cuba, and, after having effected their destruction, was two days and nights in constant action with the batteries, the baffling winds and light airs preventing his clearing the port. On the night of 24 Oct. 1799 Capt. Hamilton achieved an exploit unsurpassed, if ever paralleled, in the mightiest efforts of British valour – namely, the actual boarding and capture, with three boats and about 50 men, of a Spanish (formerly British) frigate, the Hermione, of 44 guns and 365 men, moored head and stern between two strong batteries at the entrance of the harbour of Puerto Cabello, said to mount nearly 200 guns.[1] It was not until after a bloody struggle of nearly an hour, in which the enemy had 119 killed and 97 wounded, and the British the comparatively trifling number of 12 wounded, that the former were completely divested of the power of further resistance. By that time, her stern and bower cables having, with the assistance of two other of the Surprise’s boats, been cut, the prize was standing out of port, under, however, a furious cannonade from the batteries, whose fire occasioned her considerable damage. Although the loss of the assailants was trivial, it yet included the chivalrous conductor of this most noble enterprise, the gallant Capt. Hamilton. He first received a tremendous blow from the butt-end of a musket, which broke over his head and knocked him senseless on the deck; and he next received a severe sabre-wound on the left thigh, another wound by a pike on the right thigh, and a contusion on the right shin-bone by a grape-shot. One of his fingers was also much cut, and his loins and kidneys were so much bruised that he still at times suffers considerable pain. Notwithstanding all this, he refused a pension of 300l., which Earl Spencer, the First Lord of the Admiralty, had afterwards ordered to be settled on him for life; and he even declined an offer made by the same nobleman of adding to his armorial bearings. The King, however, created him a Knight by letters patent under the Great Seal, and conferred on him the Naval Gold Medal of Merit, besides ultimately nominating him a K.C.B., 2 Jan. 1815, and elevating him to the dignity of a Baronet, 20 Oct. 1818. The House of Assembly at Jamaica also voted him an elegant sword valued at 300 guineas; and on his return to London he was invited by special invitation to dine at the Mansion House, and presented on the occasion with the thanks of the Corporation, and the freedom of the city in a gold box worth fifty guineas. Previously to his arrival, however, and while on his passage home, in the Jamaica packet, for the cure of his wounds. Sir Edw. Hamilton was captured by a French privateer, and taken to Paris, where, during a sojourn of six weeks, he was much noticed by Buonaparte, who in the end allowed him to be exchanged for six Midshipmen. His last appointments were – 23 Oct. 1800, to the Trent 36, employed, until Jan. 1802, off the coast of France, where he occasionally commanded a small squadron at the blockade of Havre de Grace, Cherbourg, and St. Maloes – and 19 June, 1806, and 7 Dec. 1815, to the Mary and Prince Regent yachts, which he successively commanded, on the river Thames and at Portsmouth, until Jan. 1819, at which period he resigned. He became a Rear-Admiral 19 July, 1821; a Vice-Admiral 10 Jan. 1837; and a full Admiral 9 Nov. 1846.
Sir Edw. Hamilton is a Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Brecon. He married, 1 Nov. 1804, Frances, daughter of John Macnamara, Esq., of Langoed Castle, co. Brecon, by whom (who died 27 March, 1840) he has issue a son and daughter.
HAMILTON. (Commander, 1834. f-p., 10; h-p., 15.)
Henry George Hamilton is second son of W. K. Hamilton, Esq.
This officer entered the Navy 7 Oct. 1822; passed his examination in 1828; obtained his first commission 26 Aug. 1829; joined, 30 Jan. 1832, the Childers 18, Capt. Robt. Deans, employed on particular service; became Flag-Lieutenant, 7 Dec. 1832, to Sir Geo. Cockburn, in the Vernon 50, on the North America and West India station; and was promoted, in consequence of a death vacancy, to the command, 12 Aug. 1834, of the Tweed 20. He was paid off 22 Nov. following, and has not since been employed.
Commander Hamilton married, 7 June, 1845, Fanny Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Rev. Chas. Tower, of Shengfield Place, Essex.
HAMILTON. (Lieut., 1821. f-p., 8; h-p., 25.)
James Hamilton, born in Nov. 1799, is son off the late Wm. Hamilton, Esq., of Bangour, co. Ayr, by Anne, daughter of Edw. Lee, Esq., of Tramore Lodge, co. Waterford. His great-grandfather, Wm. Hamilton, joining in the last attempt made to restore the house of Stuart to the throne, fought at the battle of Culloden in 1745, and, after the issue of that memorable conflict, fled to France, where he died in 1754.
This officer entered the Navy, 23 Feb. 1814, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Leander 50, Capt. Sir Geo. Ralph Collier, on the North American station; removed in Aug. following, for a short period, to the Iris 36, receiving-ship at Greenwich, Capt. Wm. Henry Shirreff; and from Feb. 1816, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 27 Jan. 1821, was next employed, on the American, Channel, and Mediterranean stations, in the Eurotas and Forth frigates, both commanded by Sir Jas. Alex. Gordon, Cyrené 20, Capt. Aaron Tozer, and Active 46, Capt. Sir Jas. Alex. Gordon. He then, until paid off in the following Nov., served with Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan, on board the Liffey 50, but has not been since afloat.
Mr. Hamilton is a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Ayr. He married, in Oct. 1824, Mary, daughter of Lord Panmure.
HAMILTON. (Commander, 1827. f-p., 14; h-p., 21.)
John Hamilton entered the Navy, 17 July, 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Prince of Wales 98, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, stationed in the Mediterranean, where he attained the rating of Midshipman 29 Feb. 1814. He next served for a few months in the Bermuda 10, commanded in the Channel by Capt. Wm. Wolrige; and between Feb. 1815 and March, 1820, was chiefly employed on the Jamaica station, part of the time as Master’s Mate, in the Tanais 38, Capt. Joseph James, Royalist and Rifleman sloops, both commanded by Capt. Houston Stewart, Salisbury 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral J. E. Douglas, Florida 24, Capt. Chas. Sibthorp John Hawtayne, and Wasp sloop, Capt. Thos. Wren Carter. He then became Acting-Lieutenant of the Sapphire 26, Capts. Henry Hart and Alex. Montgomerie, and, being confiimed by commission dated 11 Sept. in the same year, 1820, was subsequently appointed – 13 March and 31 May, 1823, to the Severn and Ramillies Coast Blockade ships, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch – and 29 Oct. 1825 to the Brisk 10, Capts. Chas. Hope and Hon. Wm. Anson. He was promoted, for his conduct as First of the latter vessel at the battle of Navarin, to the rank of Commander 22 Oct. 1827, and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
HAMILTON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 8; h-p., 33.)
John Hamilton (a) entered the Navy, 25 March, 1806, as Midshipman, on board the Bonetta sloop,
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1890, p. 61.
