John Hamilton (captain)
Encyclopedia
Captain John Hamilton was a British naval officer, the second son of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn
and Anne Plumer.
and served in Guinea
and the West Indies from 1737 to 1740. He was promoted to captain the next year and served throughout the War of the Austrian Succession
, mostly in escorting convoys. In 1742, he was given command of HMS Kinsale, and captured a privateer off Dieppe
on 7 September. He took command of HMS Augusta
in 1744. His portrait by Joshua Reynolds
in 1746 brought the artist his initial fame.
In 1749, Hamilton married Harriet Eliot, the daughter of James Craggs
and widow of Richard Eliot of Port Eliot (d. 1748). He remained on active service for a few years after the close of the war in 1748, but went on half-pay from 1751 to 1755. He was called back into service as commander of HMS Lancaster
, and accidentally drowned while in Portsmouth harbour
. He left two children:
James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn FRS PC was a Scottish and Irish nobleman, the son of James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn and Elizabeth Reading. He was styled Lord Paisley from 1701 until his accession in 1734...
and Anne Plumer.
Biography
Hamilton chose a career in the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and served in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
and the West Indies from 1737 to 1740. He was promoted to captain the next year and served throughout the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, mostly in escorting convoys. In 1742, he was given command of HMS Kinsale, and captured a privateer off Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
on 7 September. He took command of HMS Augusta
HMS Augusta (1736)
HMS Augusta was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment at Deptford Dockyard, and launched on 1 July 1736.Augusta served until 1765, when she was broken up....
in 1744. His portrait by Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
in 1746 brought the artist his initial fame.
In 1749, Hamilton married Harriet Eliot, the daughter of James Craggs
James Craggs the Elder
James Craggs the Elder was an English politician and the father of James Craggs the Younger.A son of Anthony Craggs of Holbeck, Durham, he was baptized on 10 June 1657...
and widow of Richard Eliot of Port Eliot (d. 1748). He remained on active service for a few years after the close of the war in 1748, but went on half-pay from 1751 to 1755. He was called back into service as commander of HMS Lancaster
HMS Lancaster (1694)
HMS Lancaster was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Bursledon on 3 April 1694.She was rebuilt according to the 1719 Establishment at Portsmouth, from where she was relaunched on 1 September 1722...
, and accidentally drowned while in Portsmouth harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
. He left two children:
- John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of AbercornJohn Hamilton, 1st Marquess of AbercornJohn James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn KG, PC was an Irish peer and politician.-Background:He was the son of Captain Hon. John Hamilton and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn. He was educated at Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge...
(1756–1818) - Lady Anne Hamilton (c. 1751 – 4 November 1764)