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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Atkinson, Horatio Nelson

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1628985A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Atkinson, Horatio NelsonWilliam Richard O'Byrne

ATKINSON. (Lieut., 1827. f-p., 25; h-p., 5.)

Horatio Nelson Atkinson – named after his godfather, the hero of Trafalgar – is eldest son of the late Thos. Atkinson, Esq., Master-Attendant, for the thirty years preceding his death, which took place in June, 1836, of Halifax and Portsmouth Dockyards, an officer of great merit, who served as Master of Nelson’s flag-ships, by whom he was highly prized, at Teneriffe, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar, and was also present, in the Theseus, at the battle of the Nile and the siege of Acre. He is brother of Lieut. R. L. Atkinson, R.N.; and brother-in-law of Lieut. Thos. Carey, R.N.

This officer entered the Navy in Jan. 1817, and passed his examination in 1824. In Jan. 1825, when Mate of the Seringapatam 46, Capt. Sam. Warren, he received three severe gun-shot wounds, and evinced the utmost gallantry, at the capture, in the Negropont Channel, by the boats of that frigate and of the Cambrian, of two piratical Greek vessels, carrying 1 gun and about 30 men each, on which occasion the British sustained a loss in the whole of 6 men killed and 13 wounded.[1] He attained the rank of Lieutenant, 27 Nov. 1827; served afterwards, from 23 Feb. 1831, until July, 1834, in the Alfred 50, Capt. Robt. Mannsell, on the Mediterranean station, where he witnessed the establishment of King Otho on the throne of Greece, and was presented, when off Alexandria, with a sword by Mehemet All; and since 31 March, 1836, for want of ability to procure further occupation afloat, has been employed in the Coast Guard.

He married, 28 Oct. 1830, Rosaria, second daughter of the late Capt. Field, R.N., and niece of the late Admiral Stuart, by whom he has issue two sons. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1625, p. 698.