A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hodder, Robert
HODDER. (Lieut., 1817. f-p., 8; h-p., 30.)
Robert Hodder is brother of Lieut. Peter Hodder, R.N., and ninth son of Geo. Hodder, Esq., of Fountainstown.
This officer entered the Navy, 19 June, 1809, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Jamaica 26, Capt. Arthur Lysaght, stationed at Newfoundland. In Nov. 1810 he joined the Southampton 32, Capt. Jas. Lucas Yeo, lying at Spithead; and in the following Feb. he removed to the Defiance 74, Capt. Rich. Raggett. During his servitude in the latter ship, which bore the flag for some time of Rear-Admiral Geo. Hope, we find him employed at the blockade of Flushing and the Texel, and superintending the transport of troops from Carlskrona to Swedish Pomerania. Between Oct. 1813 and June, 1814, he was borne on the books of the Devonshire 74, Capt. Ross Donnelly, and Harlequin 18, Capt. Wm. Kempthorne, both fitting at Sheerness; and in the next Nov. he was received on board the Ethalion 36, Capt. Wm. Hugh Dobbie. On a subsequent occasion, while in escort of a convoy from Gibraltar to Cork, he very courageously volunteered, in company with Mr. Lane, another Midshipman, to take charge of one of the merchantmen which had been dismasted in a gale and abandoned by her master and crew. He accordingly went on board the vessel with his friend, and, having rigged jury-masts, retained possession of her for a period of 12 days, when they were both burnt out by the effects of a spontaneous combustion which took place in the hold. In Oct. 1815 Mr. Hodder was appointed Master’s Mate of the Congo sloop, Capt. Jas. Hingston Tuckey, for the purpose of exploring the river of that name on the coast of Africa. Being ultimately the only officer spared by the ravages of the climate, he assumed, in Oct. 1816, the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, although he had not yet passed his examination. He brought the Congo home from Bahia in the spring of 1817, and on 24 May in that year, as soon as he had passed, was officially promoted. He has not been since afloat.
Lieut. Hodder has been employed in the Customs since Aug. 1819. He married, in March, 1834, Ellen Jane, eldest daughter of Capt. Wm. Henry Craig, R.M.