Biographical Data

Hamilton, Charles

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Title Vice-Admiral (RN)
Official Number (na)
 
Birth 25/05/1767 Death 14/09/1849
Place (nk) Place Iping
Area (nk) Area Sussex
Country England Country UK
 
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Biography
On his father's death in 1784, Hamilton inherited a baronetcy. He served as a Member of Parliament for 12 years, beginning in 1801. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of Heligoland 1814 - 1817. He was the first Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland to bring his wife, the Lady Henrietta Hamilton, who was an accomplished amateur artist. St. John's had been devastated by fire just prior to Hamilton's arrival. He oversaw the reconstruction, and introduced a building code and widened the streets. The new regulations were difficult to enforce and two more fires broke out during his time as governor. Hamilton did try to establish contact with the Beothuk, and authorized the unsuccessful expeditions of John Peyton and William Buchan.
 
Military Service
He entered the Royal Navy in 1776 (at the age of 9) serving in HMS Hector (his father's ship). He completed a term at the Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth 1777-1779. He was appointed as a Lieutenant RN in 1781. He was appointed as a Commander RN in 1789, and to Captain RN in 1790. He served in HMS Dido (In command). He served in HMS San Fiorenzo (In command). He served in HMS Romney (In command). He served in HMS Melpomene (In command). He served in HMS Illustrious (In command). He served with the Sea Fencible Service. He served in HMS Temeraire (In command). He served in HMS Tonnant (In command). In 1818 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral RN was appointed as the Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland 19/07/1818 - 07/10/1825. He left Newfoundland and held no further appointments. He was appointed as an Admiral (On the retired list) (With seniority dated 22/07/1830).
 
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Anecdotes
 
 
References
Story, Norah (1967); MacFarlane, John M. (1994)
Last update
2011-02-16 00:00:00

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