EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1806.]
Son of a naval officer; was born at Saltash, co. Cornwall, in 1765; made a Lieutenant in 1790; and advanced to the rank of Commander in 1798. At the commencement of the late war, we find him commanding the Helder frigate, stationed as a floating battery in the river Humber; and subsequently the Dispatch brig, of 18 guns, employed on Channel service. In Oct. 1804, Captain Hawkins destroyed three French gun-vessels, each mounting 1 brass 32-pounder and 1 long six. On the 27th Sept. 1806, two days after the date of his post commission, he assisted at the capture of le Presidente frigate, mounting 44 guns, with a complement of 330 men.
At this latter period, the Dispatch was under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Louis, who, in his official letter, merely states that le Presidente struck to his squadron, after a chase of 17 hours. Mr. James, however, informs us, and we believe his statement to be correct, that Captain Hawkins maintained a running fight with the enemy, from 6-45 until about 7-45 P.M.; when the latter bore up and stood towards the British squadron, the nearest ship of which was about 3 miles astern of the Dispatch; and that the Rear-Admiral shortly afterwards fired a distant shot at le Presidente, who thereupon hauled down her colours, and was taken possession of by her tiny antagonist. We agree with Mr. James, that “it would have been but fair to have given the brig the credit which was due to her, that of having, when no ship was at hand to assist her, so boldly engaged a heavy French frigate[1].”
When superseded in the command of the Dispatch Captain Hawkins retired to Saltash, where he continued until Feb, 1807, when he was dragged from his home and tried by a court-martial “for cruelty and oppression, unbecoming the character of an officer exercised by him, or caused by him to be exercised towards and upon William Davie (a seaman belonging to the Dispatch), and for negligence and inattention to the state and condition of the said man, as a sick person
- ↑ See Nav. Hist. 2d edit., Vol. IV. p. 383., et seq.
