Dooitze Eelkes Hinxt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown date,c. 1741 Dokkum,Dutch Republic |
| Died | 10 August 1797(1797-08-10) (aged 55–56) offTexel, Dutch Republic |
| Allegiance |
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| Branch | |
| Years of service | 1782–1797 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Wars | |
CaptainDooitze Eelkes Hinxt (c. 1741 – 20 October 1797) was a Dutch naval officer. He was the son of Eelke Tabes Hinxt, a merchant captain from the city ofDokkum.[1] Hinxt died on the ship of warBeschermer, due to the wounds he received during thebattle of Camperdown.
Dooitze Eelkes Hinxt was born in aRoman Catholic family.[2] His father was a merchant captain, who sailed in Europe, often to theBaltic countries. Dooitze Hinxt probably learned navigation skills aboard the ship of his father. In the years 1764–1780 Hinxt sailed on his ownkoff, theAemelia Dorothea.[3]
In 1782, Hinxt joined theAdmiralty of Friesland. He became a lieutenant and was given command of thecutterSnelheid. This was a small ship, withcopper sheathing, 12 guns and a crew of 60 men. TheSnelheid was indeed a fast ship, and Hinxt often organized matches for speed with other ships.[4] In the years 1783–1785, Hinxt sailed for the Dutch colony ofEssequibo in Latin-America. In the years 1787–1789, he sailed to theMediterranean Sea, where he visited theAegean Islands, among other places. On 23 December 1789, Hinxt was promoted to Captain. In the years 1792–1794, he visited Essequibo and the Mediterranean a second time.[5]
In September 1794, Hinxt joined a fleet nearFlushing to await the French forces from the South. Hinxt was known to be a good navigator, but he wasn't a good military man. Yet in 1794, he collided with the ship of warWalcheren (capt. Marinus J. Haringman). The side of theSnelheid became badly damaged. Captain Haringman (and other officers with him) acted arrogantly towards Hinxt and his small cutter and refused to pay the repair costs. In the end, the issue was solved when AdmiralJan Hendrik van Kinsbergen got involved. Meanwhile, Hinxt was ready for a new ship. In a letter he complained because hewas wet all the time, with wet clothes in a wet cabin, and the decks were never dry.[4]
Hinxt married Anna Gerrits from the city ofLeeuwarden in 1763. After her death he married Elisabeth Annes de Haan in 1769. She also died young, due to complications of childbirth. Hinxt married again in 1790, with Catharina Joris de Haan (Elisabeth's sister?), who was also born in Leeuwarden. The couple moved to the city ofHarlingen.[6] Hinxt had three children, but in 1797 only his daughter Anna Maria survived.[7]
When hostilities broke out between theDutch Patriots party and theOrangist party in 1787, Hinxt had not openly supported a cause. Old letters reveal that he did have contacts with the Patriot party. So when the patriots seized power in 1795, it was clear to Hinxt that he would join theBatavian Navy.[8]
In 1796 Hinxt was given command of the shipBeschermer. This was a ship of war with 56 guns, and a crew of 350 men. The ship became part of a fleet under Vice-AdmiralJan Willem de Winter, which was made ready for aninvasion of Ireland. The fleet was meant to sail forBrest first, to combine with a French fleet. But aRoyal Navyblockade prevented the Batavian fleet from leaving port.[9] In the summer of 1797, the Batavian fleet was stationed near Texel. At this time, Hinxt, his wife, and his daughter Anna Maria (born in 1778) were all aboard theBeschermer.
On 8 October 1797 Admiral De Winter decided to go on a small cruise to give his crew some experience. A British fleet under AdmiralAdam Duncan was quickly informed of this, and on 11 October 1797 the two fleets engaged each other near the village of Camperdown. TheBeschermer sailed in the tip of the line and was attacked byHMS Belliqueux. Hinxt was wounded early in the battle. His left arm and a finger on his right hand were shot off, and he received another wound on his left thigh. Hinxt was quickly taken to his cabin for medical care.[10]
He allegedly spoke to his Lieutenant Jacob Oelsen, asking: "Will we have to surrender?", Oelsen answered: "No captain! We won't surrender, we will give all we can." Hinxt replied: "Then continue, and do your duty!"[11] Minutes later, theBeschermer was attacked byHMS Lancaster. TheBeschermer's officers left the battle, considering their situation hopeless. The Battle of Camperdown was a crushing defeat of the Batavian Navy.[12]
Dooitze Eelkes Hinxt died of his wounds on 20 October 1797. He was buried atHuisduinen.
