A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hooper, Richard
HOOPER. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 16; h-p., 31.)
Richard Hooper entered the Navy, in 1800, as L.M., on board the Severn 44, Capts. John Whitby and Geo. Barker, employed in the West Indies; where, and in the Channel, he served, from Dec. 1803 until Aug. 1809, as A.B., Midshipman, Master’s Mate, and Acting-Lieutenant, in the Port Mahon brig, Capt. Sam. Chambers. During the three first years of that period he assisted at the capture, re-capture, and destruction of at least 50 vessels; among which were El Galgo Spanish packet, the Aranzana letter-of-marque, and El Courier privateer. In 1808 the Port Mahon took two other privateers – Le Furet, of 16 guns and 47 men, and Le Général Paris, of 3 guns and 38 men. After an attachment of nearly 12 months to the San Josef 110, under the flags of Sir John Thos. Duckworth and Sir Chas. Cotton, Mr. Hooper was made Lieutenant, 4 July, 1810, into the Téméraire 98, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Fras. Pickmore in the Mediterranean. His last appointments were – 10 Sept. 1812, to the Insolent 14, Capts. Edw. Brazier and Wm. Kelly, with whom he served in the Channel and Baltic until compelled by illness to invalid in Sept. 1814 – and, 3 Feb. 1816, to the Dee 24, commanded by Capt. Sam. Chambers on the Halifax station. The latter vessel was paid off 8 Dec. 1818.