A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hodgson, James
HODGSON. (Retired Commander, 1843. f-p., 16; h-p., 48.)
James Hodgson was born 24 Oct. 1766.
This officer entered the Navy (into which he was impressed from the merchant-service), in 1783, on board the Mohawk sloop, Capts. R. Tripp and J. Sutton, from which ship, on her return from the West Indies, he was paid off. In Oct. 1793 he was again impressed, and placed on board the Bellona 74, Capts. Geo. Wilson and Thos. Boulden Thompson. Under the former of those officers we find him present, as Master’s Mate, at the capture, in Jan. 1795, of Le Duras, a French ship of 20 guns, having on board 400 troops; and also of Le Duquesne frigate of 44 guns. In Feb. 1797 he further served with Capt. Wilson at the reduction of Trinidad by the forces under Rear-Admiral Harvey and Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby; and in the following April be was likewise with him in the unsuccessful attack made by those commanders on Puerto Rico. Obtaining, 11 April, 1799, a Lieutenancy in the Nereide 36, Capts. Fred. Watkins, Henry Wm. Bayntun, and Robt. Mends, he assisted in that frigate at the capture, 2 and 3 March, 1800, of La Vengeance privateer of 16 guns and 174 men, and of an American ship with a cargo on board worth 30,000l. In the next Sept. he was present in her at the surrender of Curaçoa, where the character he had won for zeal, bravery, and ever-steady conduct, so gained him the confidence of his Captain, that the latter was induced to place him in command of the principal fortress commanding the town. He had previously been of the utmost service in a newly-erected battery in annoying the enemy, and had been a principal cause of their retreat.[1] On 11 Aug. 1801, a few weeks after his junction of the Lowestoffe 32, Capt. Robt. Plampin, Mr. Hodgson had the misfortune to be wrecked on the island of Heneaga. His last appointment Was, 15 May, 1804, to the Barryhead Signal station, in Ireland, the charge of which he retained until superseded, at his own request, 9 April, 1812. He accepted the rank of Retired Commander on the Senior List 8 May, 1843.
Commander Hodgson is married, and has issue.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 1331.