A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hawkins, Henry Caesar
HAWKINS. (Commander, 1842.)
Henry Caesar Hawkins, born 19 March, 1809, is second surviving son of the present Sir John Caesar Hawkins, Bart., by Charlotte, eldest daughter of Wm. Surtees, Esq., of Hedley, co. Northumberland. One of his brothers is a Captain in the Indian, and three others are officers in the Queen’s, Army.
This officer entered the Navy 2 May, 1822; passed his examination in 1828; was employed on shore in Oct. of that year in constructing batteries and otherwise co-operating with the French army during the siege of Morea Castle;[1] and obtained his first commission 6 Sept. 1838. Being appointed, 11 April, 1839 (after a short servitude as Additional-Lieutenant in the Donegal 78, flag-ship at Lisbon of Sir John Acworth Ommanney), to the Blenheim 72, Capts. Sir Humphrey Fleming Senhouse and Sir Thos. Herbert, he ultimately proceeded to China, where he went through the whole campaign, including the storming of Chinghae,[2] on which occasion he served on shore in command of a party of seamen. He was in consequence advanced to his present rank 23 Dec. 1842,[3] but has not been since employed. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.