Royal Naval Biography/Hockings, Robert
ROBERT HOCKINGS, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1821.]
Received his first commission in 1797; and was promoted to the rank of commander, for conducting a fire-vessel into Aix roads, April 11th, 1809; at which period he was serving as lieutenant of the Caledonia. On the 11th Sept. 1812, being then in the Dominica brig, on the Leeward Islands station, he captured the American privateer schooner Providence, of 12 guns and 60 men. His next appointment was, Dec. 26th, 1820, to the Medina ship-sloop, in which he afforded protection to the European consuls and merchants at Smyrna, during the horrid outrages perpetrated there, in June 1621, the whole of whom would, probably, have fallen victims to the ungovernable fury of the populace, had they not found an asylum on board the shipping in the roads; the ferocious and undisciplined band, after assassinating the Turkish governor, having compelled the Pacha of Cesarea to give them license to do what they chose.
Captain Hockings obtained post rank, July 19th, 1821; about which period he married Magdalena, eldest daughter of the late Gerard Montagu, of Burlington Hall, near Lowestoffe, in Norfolk, Esq.
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.