A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hamilton, Thomas
HAMILTON. (Lieut., 1825. f-p., 34; h-p., 1.)
Thomas Hamilton was born 1 Aug. 1801.
This officer entered the Navy, 14 July, 1812, as A.B., on board the Barbara 12, Lieut.-Commander Jas. Morgan, under whom be shared in many dashing affairs with the enemy’s armed vessels off the coast of France and in the Baltic. On one occasion, in particular, he came into destructive conflict with a flotilla of seven gun-boats off Fladstrand; and, on another, he assisted in cutting out 10 sail from Randers Fiord. After further serving off St. Sebastian, and witnessing the embarkation of the British troops in the Garonne, Mr. Hamilton accompanied the expedition against New Orleans, and bore an active part in all the harassing operations connected with it. At the commencement of 1816, having been for short periods employed in different vessels on the Home station, he proceeded to St. Helena and the Cape, where for three years he served, as Midshipman, in the Griffon 14, Capts. Geo. Hewson, Jas. Arthur Murray, and Wm. Elliot Wright, Spey 20, Capt. J. A. Murray, and Favorite 26, Capt. Hercules Robinson. He next, on his return to England, joined the Queen Charlotte 100, Capt. Edm. Boger, and Camelion 10, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye; and, in 1819, a year or two after he had passed his examination, he became attached to the Severn frigate, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch, under whom, with his name latterly on the books of the Ramillies 74, he was for a considerable time employed on the Coast Blockade. In consequence of certain acts performed by Mr. Hamilton at Dymchurch while in the execution of his duty, he was imprisoned for 11 days in the black-hole at that place, and afterwards conveyed to London, and thence to Maidstone. He was ultimately however, on 7 Aug. 1823, honourably acquitted, and had the satisfaction of being highly complimented by his judge, as well as by Capt. M‘Culloch and the Blockade officers. On the occasion of a subsequent and very fierce affray with a band of smugglers, many of whom were killed. Mr. Hamilton was so desperately wounded as at the moment to be considered lifeless. His arm, jaws, and one of his fingers were broken, and, independently of injuries inflicted on his left eye and breast, he received three sabre-wounds in the head. He was advanced to his present rank 14 Feb. 1825; and since 3 of the following Oct. has been employed in the Coast Guard – the last four years as an Inspecting-Lieutenant.
Lieut. Hamilton married, 28 Dec. 1830, Ann, daughter of John Miller, Esq., of Rossyvolan House and Ballintree, co. Donegal, a lady connected with many of the principal families in the north of Ireland, by whom he has issue four sons and three daughters.