A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Atkinson, Henry Esch
ATKINSON. (Commander, 1827. f-p., 18; h-p., 22.)
Sir Henry Esch Atkinson, born in 1792, is son of the late Henry Wm. Atkinson, Esq., Provost of the Hon. Company of Moneyers; brother of Sir Jasper Atkinson, Kt., of the Royal Mint; and brother-in-law of the late Judge, Sir Wm. Taunton.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 Feb. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pandora 18, Capt. Henry Hume Spence; and, after assisting at the capture, under the batteries near Cape Grisnez, of L’Entreprenante French privateer lugger, of 16 guns and 53 men, removed, as Midshipman, in May, 1808, to the Hero 74, Capt. Jas. Newman Newman, part of Lord Gambler’s fleet at the destruction of the enemy’s shipping in Aix Roads, in April, 1808. In the early part of 1810 he proceeded to the West Indies on board the Circe 28, Capt. Edw. Woolloombe, and he subsequently (until promoted, 16 Feb. 1815) served, on the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Irish stations, in the Vigo 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Jas. Nicoll Morris, Rivoli 74, Capt. Graham Eden Hamond, and Castilian 18, Capt. David Braimer. His subsequent appointments were – 20 May, 1815, to the Bacchus 16, Capt. Wm. Hill, in the Bay of Biscay – 1 Nov. 1819, to the Brazen 26, Capt. Wm. Shepheard, fitting for the Cape of Good Hope – 11 March, 1823, to the Queen Charlotte 100, flagship at Portsmouth of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed – 7 June, 1824, to the Britomart 10, Capt. Octavius Venables Vernon, on the Jamaica station – 23 Aug. 1825, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye – and, 9 March, 1827, to the Weazle 10, Capt. John Burnet Dundas, fitting for sea. He was superseded from the latter vessel on promotion to the rank he now holds, 30 April following; and, from 19 March, 1835, until 1838, was afterwards employed in the Coast Guard. He has since been in the receipt of half-pay.
Sir Henry Esch Atkinson, who was knighted by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1836, is at present Superintendent of Convicts in Van Diemen’s Land. He married, in 1819, Sarah, daughter of John Bandall, Esq., of the Isle of Wight, and has issue one son, and four daughters, the eldest of whom is married to Lieut. T. A. Butler, R.N. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.