Royal Naval Biography/Hatton, Villiers Francis
VILLIERS FRANCIS HATTON, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1812.]
Eldest son of George Hatton, Esq. formerly M.P. for Lisburne, co. Antrim, by Lady Isabella R. Seymour Conway, sixth daughter of Francis, first Marquis of Hertford.
This officer was born at Dromana, co. Waterford, in 1787; and he entered the naval service, under the patronage of his maternal uncle, Lord Hugh Seymour, in 1799. From that period, we find him serving as a midshipman on board the Sans Pareil 80, bearing his lordship’s flag, in the West Indies; Carnatic 74, Captain Charles V. Penrose; St. Fiorenzo frigate. Captain Joseph Bingham; and Trident 64, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Rainier, until 1805, when he was appointed lieutenant of the Grampus 50, on the East India station. His commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, Jan. 31, 1806.
Lieutenant Hatton, having obtained leave of absence soon after his promotion, returned home in an Indiaman, and was next appointed to the Seagull brig, of 16 guns, on the North Sea station, where he displayed great zeal for the public service, often cruising in an open boat to intercept smugglers, and being repeatedly absent from his vessel for days together. Several of those illicit traders were captured, principally through his exertions. He became first of the Seagull a short time previous to her very noble action with the Danish 20-gun brig Lougen and six heavy gun-boats, near Christiansand, the particulars of which have been given at p. 377 et seq. of Suppl. Part I. The following is an extract of his gallant commander’s official letter reporting the destruction of the Seagull:–
“I cannot speak in terms adequate to the deserts of every officer and man under my command on this trying occasion. I received that support from Mr. Hatton, the first lieutenant, I had every reason to expect from his general good conduct; and the officers and crew have my warmest thanks for their cool and steady behaviour: I consider it a duty I owe to them to add, that British valour was never displayed in a more striking manner than on this occasion, opposed as they were to so very superior a force.”
In this desperate battle. Lieutenant Hatton lost an arm, and received two other wounds, one of which, in the knee, nearly deprived him of the use of his right leg. So highly was his meritorious behaviour appreciated by the court-martial, assembled to enquire into the circumstances attending the loss of the Seagull, that that tribunal deviated from the usual practice in such cases, by distinctly mentioning him in the sentence, of which we shall here give an extract:–
“The Court cannot but express the highest approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant Villiers Francis Hatton, who, although most dangerously wounded, continued to give his support and encouragement to ihe last; as well as of the noble and steady behaviour of the other officers, and the crew of the Seagull, during so sanguinary and unequal a conflict, – a circumstance which, while it reflects the highest honor on them, does no less credit to the discipline of the King’s sloop; and the Court doth therefore most honorably acquit Lieutenant Hatton, the officers and crew; and they are most honorably acquitted accordingly.”
It is scarcely necessary to add, that the subject of this memoir was immediately made a commander: his commission as such bears date June 19, 1808, the day on which he so nobly distinguished himself. The pension first granted to him for the loss of his arm, &c. was of very trifling amount, but it has since been increased to 300l. per annum.
Early in 1810, Captain Hatton was appointed to the Wildboar brig; but that vessel was unfortunately wrecked, near Scilly, before he had an opportunity of joining her[1]. We subsequently find him commanding the Port Mahon brig, on the Portsmouth station, from whence he proceeded to the north coast of Spain, where his boats were very actively employed in landing parties to destroy the fortifications of various places evacuated by the enemy. He obtained post rank Feb. 7, 1812.
Captain Hatton married, in May, 1817, Harriet, daughter of the late Colonel and Lady Cecilia Latouche; by whom he has two children. His only brother, Henry John Hatton, is a Commander R.N.
Agent.– Sir Francis M. Ommanney.