Sir Vesey Hamilton | |
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Born | (1829-05-28)28 May 1829 Sandwich, UK |
Died | 17 September 1912(1912-09-17) (aged 83) Chalfont St Peter, UK |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Service years | 1843–1894 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands | |
Wars | |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Relations | J. W. Hamilton (brother) |
AdmiralSir Richard Vesey HamiltonGCB (28 May 1829 – 17 September 1912) was aRoyal Navy officer. As a junior officer he twice volunteered to take part in missions to search forSir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition to find theNorthwest Passage. He also took part in theBattle of Fatshan Creek in June 1857 during theSecond Opium War.
Later in his career he became commander-in-chief atChina Station and took his fleet intoVladivostok harbour in 1886, which surprised the Russians. He becameFirst Naval Lord in July 1889 and in that role he was primarily concerned with implementing the recommendations contained in a report on the disposition of the ships of the Royal Navy many of which were unarmoured and together incapable of meeting the combined threat from any two of the other naval powers ("the Two-power Standard"): these recommendations had been enshrined in theNaval Defence Act 1889. He finished his career as President of theRoyal Naval College at Greenwich.
Born the son of the Revd John Vesey Hamilton and his wife Frances Agnes Hamilton (née Malone), Hamilton was educated at theRoyal Naval School inCamberwell and joined theRoyal Navy in July 1843.[1][2] He was posted to the sloopHMS Virago in theMediterranean Fleet.[1]
He volunteered to become a mate on the barqueHMS Assistance which was despatched in 1850, under the command of CaptainErasmus Ommanney, on a mission to search forSir John Franklin and hisill-fated expedition to find theNorthwest Passage.[3] Promoted to lieutenant on 11 October 1851, he volunteered for a second mission this time in the barqueHMS Resolute which was despatched in 1852, under the command of CaptainHenry Kellett, in search of Franklin.[3] While in the Arctic Hamilton was tasked with carrying out surveys of islands, including the first survey of the northern end ofMelville island.[2] He would work with a sled ashore to survey the islands.[2] He gave his name to the small islandVesey Hamilton Island in theHazen Strait.[2][4] Resolute became stuck in the ice in the spring of 1854 and Kellett and his crew were ordered to abandon ship.[5]
Hamilton was given command of the gunboatHMS Haughty in February 1856 and took part in theBattle of Fatshan Creek in June 1857 during theSecond Opium War.[6] Promoted to[commander on 10 August 1857, he was given command of the sloopHMS Hydra on theWest Indies Station in June 1858.[3]
Promoted to captain on 27 January 1862, he took command of the sloopHMS Vesuvius on the West Indies Station in July 1862, the sloopHMS Sphinx on the West Indies Station in 1865 and thebroadside ironcladHMS Achilles on coast guard service atPortland Harbour in April 1870.[3] He became commander of the steam reserve atDevonport in 1873 and captain-superintendent ofPembroke Dock in March 1875 and was appointed aCompanion of the Order of the Bath on 29 May 1875.[7]
Promoted to rear admiral on 27 September 1877,[8] Hamilton was appointed Director of Naval Ordnance at theAdmiralty in 1878.[3] He was given command of theCoast of Ireland Station in 1880 and, having been promoted to vice admiral on 17 February 1884,[9] he became commander-in-chief ofChina Station in September 1885;[3] he took his fleet intoVladivostok harbour the following year and gave the Russians a surprise.[1] He was advanced to Knight Commander of theOrder of the Bath on 21 June 1887[10] and promoted to full admiral on 18 October 1887.[11]
Hamilton went on to beSecond Naval Lord in December 1888,[1] andFirst Naval Lord in July 1889.[3] In that role he was primarily concerned with implementing the recommendations contained in a report on the disposition of the ships of the Royal Navy many of which were unarmoured and together incapable of meeting the combined threat from any two of the other naval powers ("the Two-power Standard"): these recommendations had been enshrined in theNaval Defence Act 1889.[1] He became President of theRoyal Naval Collega at Greenwich, in September 1891 and retired from the Navy in May 1894.[12] He was advanced toKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 25 May 1895.[13]
In retirement he wroteNaval Administration; The Constitution, Character, and Functions of the Board of Admiralty, and of the Civil Departments It Directs.[1] He died at his home inChalfont St Peter inBuckinghamshire on 17 September 1912, and is buried atEltham in South London.[1]
In 1862 Hamilton married he Julia Frances Delmé Murray; they had two sons and two daughters.[1]William John Warburton Hamilton was his eldest brother.[14]
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:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Military offices | ||
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Preceded by | Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station 1880–1883 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by Sir William Dowell | Commander-in-Chief, China Station 1885–1887 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Second Naval Lord 1888–1889 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | First Naval Lord 1889—1891 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | President, Royal Naval College, Greenwich 1891–1894 | Succeeded by |