Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hawker, Edward
HAWKER, EDWARD (1782–1860), admiral, son of Captain James Hawker [q. v.], had his name placed by Prince William Henry on the books of the Pegasus in 1786, but he first went to sea in 1793 on board the Pegasus frigate, and afterwards in the Swiftsure, with his brother-in-law, Captain Charles Boyles. In July 1796 he was promoted to be lieutenant of the Raisonnable, also with Captain Boyles; in 1799–1800 he was in the Spitfire sloop with his brother-in-law, Commander (afterwards Sir Michael) Seymour (1768–1834) [q. v.], and from 1801 to 1803 in the Thames frigate with Captain Aiskew Paffard Hollis [q. v.], at Gibraltar and on the coast of Egypt. He afterwards commanded the Swift cutter in the West Indies, and in August 1803 was promoted to the command of the Port Mahon brig. In June 1804 he was advanced to post rank, and in the following month was appointed to the Theseus, bearing the flag of Rear-admiral Dacres, on the West Indian station. He afterwards commanded, on the same station, the Tartar and the Melampus till 1812, being continually engaged in active and successful cruising against the enemy's privateers. From 1813 to 1815, first in the Bellerophon and afterwards in the Salisbury, he was flag-captain to Sir Richard Goodwin Keats, commander-in-chief at Newfoundland, and from 1827 to 1830 was flag-captain to the Earl of Northesk at Plymouth. He had no further service afloat, but became in due course rear-admiral in 1837, vice-admiral in 1847, admiral in 1853, and died at Brighton 8 June 1860.
During his later years he was a frequent correspondent of the ‘Times,’ writing on naval subjects under the signature of ‘A Flag Officer.’ A letter to Wellington in 1840 was published separately. He was also well known in religious and philanthropic circles. He was married and left issue.
[O'Byrne's Nav. Biog. Dict.; Record, 18 June 1860; information from the family.]