30:
607:
93:
73:
293:
He was working as a tailor's apprentice near
Bonchurch, in the Isle of Wight, when the news flew through the village that a squadron of men-of-war was sailing off the island. He sprang from the shopboard, and ran down with his comrades to the beach, to gaze upon the glorious sight. The boy was
663:, which was thrown into the air when the ship exploded and partly extinguished the flames. The remainder of the fleet followed Hopsonn into the harbour and the Franco-Spanish fleet were heavily defeated. The French and Spanish lost 34 ships, and much silver and other cargo."
1213:
1218:
638:
294:
suddenly inflamed with the ambition to be a sailor; and springing into a boat, he rowed off to the squadron, gained the admiral's ship, and was accepted as a volunteer.
263:, where he was baptised on 6 April 1643, the second son of Captain Anthony Hopson (d. 1667) and his wife Anne Kinge. His great grandfather was the Elizabethan explorer
1133:
1253:
793:
715:
408:
131:
1099:
651:. In the early hours of 23 October 1702, Hopsonn crashed through the boom whilst under a heavy fire. A merchantman hastily repurposed as a
426:
1243:
670:
for his actions at Vigo Bay and retired from active service. He was made an Extra
Commissioner of the Navy and served as governor of
497:
685:, where he built a house called Vigo House (demolished in 1928 to make way for a hospital). Hopson died there on 12 October 1717.
380:
447:
under
Strickland to prevent the Dutch invasion. However, Hopsonn was one of the conspirators within the fleet who supported
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in 1702. After retiring from active service, he became a Navy
Commissioner and the governor of Greenwich Hospital.
189:
309:
However it happened, Hopsonn seems to have joined the navy by 1662, and was mentioned as a "particular friend" of
1142:
1123:
1103:
570:. In 1696 he gave up his commission in the Foot Guards, and in 1698 he was elected, thanks to the influence of
360:
from the hand of one of his assailants and ran him through with it. The sword remains in the collection of the
200:
637:
formed of ship's masts chained together overlooked by forts, together with French warships commanded by the
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667:
473:
184:
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957:
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571:
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In 1702, Hopsonn was once more under the command of Sir George Rooke, as part of the fleet detailed to
527:
481:
480:, who formed a high opinion of his gallantry and was afterwards much associated with him. He commanded
149:
1228:
939:
551:
as his flagship. In
February 1694 he sailed home, conducting a convoy of nearly a hundred ships from
538:
513:
425:. But, after returning home in this vessel in September 1684, he resumed his army career, becoming a
377:
116:
622:
1146:
625:. After a month of operations the attack came to nothing, but on the way home Rooke learned of the
361:
522:. His first mission was as second-in-command to Rooke conducting a large convoy of merchantmen to
736:
318:
693:
Hopsonn married
Elizabeth Timbrell (1660–1740), the daughter of John Timbrell and Ann Benett of
995:
626:
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448:
438:
322:
194:
137:
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29:
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487:
328:
167:
155:
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991:
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365:
314:
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Ann (1692–1763), married
Captain Edward Story, and after his death married William Benett.
8:
603:. The following summer, his squadron transported troops from Ireland to the Netherlands.
452:
434:
885:
753:(1671–1728) also went into the navy and rose to the rank of vice-admiral of the white.
642:
611:
600:
546:
299:
244:
243:
officer and politician. His most famous action was the breaking of the boom during the
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His nephew, erroneously supposed by some sources to have been his younger brother,
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349:
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218:
810:
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on 30 April 1685. He was finally given another naval command on 18 May 1688, when
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He spent 1699 off the coasts of
Ireland and France, with his flag aboard the
392:
391:. Returning to Britain in 1679, he spent some time ashore, and had become an
280:
260:
223:
477:
310:
35:
388:
997:
The Royal Navy: A History from the
Earliest Times to the Present, Vol 2
895:
694:
592:
396:
313:' brother-in-law, Balthazar St Michel, in 1666. He was given his first
240:
98:
582:
on the Isle of Wight. He would represent the constituency until 1705.
678:
652:
567:
564:
486:
for two months starting in August 1690, before moving to command the
272:
256:
60:
476:
the following year. Hopsonn's immediate commander in the battle was
407:
On 10 January 1682, he was recalled to sea and given command of the
444:
534:, but no blame was attached to Hopsonn in the subsequent inquiry.
267:. According to local tradition, he was orphaned early in life and
698:
596:
560:
414:
276:
904:. Vol. 27. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 344–345.
555:
to
England without incident. He spent the next two years in the
682:
523:
357:
526:. The convoy was attacked and scattered by the French admiral
496:
on 19 May 1692. In the same year, he was promoted to become a
338:
On 10 December 1676, he was appointed first lieutenant on the
1214:
British naval commanders in the War of the Spanish Succession
552:
335:
aboard this vessel, and in all the other battles of the war.
306:, this colourful story "rests on no historical foundation".
714:
Elizabeth (1686–1758), married Captain John Goodall of the
630:
1000:. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pp. 381–386.
458:
Following the revolution, Hopsonn retained command of the
492:. It was aboard the latter that he followed Rooke in the
466:
in June 1689. On 28 October 1689, he was posted to the
705:
Mary (1682–1715), married Captain John Watkins of the
34:
Portrait of Hopsonn, painted between 1705 and 1708 by
1070:
Diamond Coast: The Story of the Isle of Wight's Coast
701:
on the Isle of Wight. The couple had eight children:
633:
Bay in Northern Spain. The ships were protected by a
500:
in the foot guards on the recommendation of admiral
364:. On 5 November 1677, he followed Strickland to the
541:of the Blue and sailed for the Mediterranean under
1219:English military personnel of the Nine Years' War
666:On returning to England, Hopsonn was knighted by
1185:
659:, but she had not been unloaded of her cargo of
462:and was part of the squadron that relieved the
352:. During this time, whilst in combat aboard a
239:(April 1643 – 12 October 1717) was an English
516:of the Blue, and hoisted his flag aboard the
797:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1254:Members of Parliament for the Isle of Wight
925:
826:
443:. This ship was part of the fleet sent to
413:. After serving initially on the coast of
28:
1067:
955:
884:
859:(Popular ed.). London: John Murray.
605:
417:, his ship was part of the fleet led by
250:
1032:
794:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
786:
472:, and commanded that vessel during the
376:on 10 December 1677. On 21 March 1678,
1186:
990:
849:
822:
820:
784:
782:
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
688:
1033:Everitt, Alfred T. (3 January 1914).
984:
962:. London: R. Faulder. pp. 50–56.
921:
919:
917:
915:
913:
911:
880:
878:
876:
874:
872:
870:
868:
866:
827:Brigstocke, G. R. (6 December 1913).
1026:
951:
949:
926:Watson, Paula; Wynne, Sonya (2002).
791:Davies, J. D. "Hopson, Sir Thomas".
817:
763:
13:
1061:
908:
863:
790:
14:
1265:
1244:17th-century Royal Navy personnel
946:
901:Dictionary of National Biography
563:, attempting to trap the French
383:gave him his first command: the
304:Dictionary of National Biography
91:
71:
940:The History of Parliament Trust
1004:
966:
936:The House of Commons 1690–1715
843:
1:
756:
641:. Hopsonn was chosen to lead
421:to conduct the evacuation of
279:, before running off to sea.
201:War of the Spanish Succession
1166:Governor, Greenwich Hospital
1072:. Wimborne: Dovecote Press.
959:Biographia Navalis, Volume 2
928:"Hopson, Thomas (1643-1717)"
811:UK public library membership
387:, which had been taken as a
7:
1035:"Admiral Sir Thomas Hopson"
829:"Admiral Sir Thomas Hopson"
10:
1270:
934:; Handley, Stuart (eds.).
507:
402:
331:in 1672. He fought in the
1249:Grenadier Guards officers
1172:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1139:
1108:
1096:
1089:
1051:10.1093/nq/s11-IX.210.16c
639:Marquis de Châteaurenault
591:, in 1700 he went to the
512:In May 1693, he was made
395:in a foot company of the
327:, on the outbreak of the
214:
163:
122:
112:
104:
84:
66:
50:
42:
27:
20:
1204:Royal Navy vice admirals
974:"The Collection: Nimcha"
645:aboard his flagship the
595:with Rooke to encourage
362:National Maritime Museum
978:Royal Museums Greenwich
956:Charnock, John (1795).
891:"Hopsonn, Thomas"
737:Governor of Nova Scotia
283:tells the tale thus in
1068:Williams, Ian (2004).
803:10.1093/ref:odnb/13768
627:Spanish treasure fleet
618:
296:
1239:English MPs 1702–1705
1234:English MPs 1701–1702
1224:English MPs 1698–1700
1091:Parliament of England
992:Clowes, William Laird
932:Cruickshanks, Eveline
609:
599:to withdraw from the
474:battle of Beachy Head
437:appointed him to the
329:Third Anglo-Dutch War
291:
251:Early life and career
185:Battle of Beachy Head
168:Third Anglo-Dutch War
105:Years of service
1111:Member of Parliament
930:. In Hayton, David;
735:(1696–1759), became
697:, on 1 June 1680 at
350:Sir Roger Strickland
344:, and sailed to the
255:Hopsonn was born in
1209:People from Ventnor
886:Laughton, John Knox
723:Charles (born 1688)
689:Marriage and family
674:from 1704 to 1708.
655:was laid alongside
537:He was promoted to
453:Glorious Revolution
745:Martha (born 1702)
672:Greenwich Hospital
619:
612:Battle of Vigo Bay
601:Great Northern War
543:Sir Francis Wheler
528:Comte de Tourville
494:battle of Barfleur
399:garrison by 1682.
370:, and then to the
300:John Knox Laughton
245:battle of Vigo Bay
233:Sir Thomas Hopsonn
207:Battle of Vigo Bay
190:Battle of Barfleur
79:Kingdom of England
22:Sir Thomas Hopsonn
1182:
1181:
1173:Succeeded by
1154:Military offices
1143:Sir James Worsley
1140:Succeeded by
1124:Sir James Worsley
1119:1698–1705
1104:Sir James Worsley
1039:Notes and Queries
1022:on 12 April 2017.
833:Notes and Queries
809:(Subscription or
742:James (born 1700)
729:Grace (1693–1768)
449:William of Orange
333:Battle of Solebay
265:Anthony Jenkinson
230:
229:
173:Battle of Solebay
1261:
1229:English MPs 1701
1170:1704–1708
1097:Preceded by
1087:
1086:
1083:
1055:
1054:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1018:. Archived from
1016:Elmbridge Museum
1008:
1002:
1001:
988:
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970:
964:
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953:
944:
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861:
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847:
841:
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824:
815:
814:
806:
788:
733:Peregrine Thomas
616:Ludolf Bakhuizen
610:Painting of the
478:Sir George Rooke
356:, he wrenched a
219:Peregrine Hopson
97:
95:
94:
86:
77:
75:
74:
57:
32:
18:
17:
1269:
1268:
1264:
1263:
1262:
1260:
1259:
1258:
1184:
1183:
1178:
1176:William Gifford
1169:
1149:
1145:
1132:
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1120:
1118:
1106:
1102:
1080:
1064:
1062:Further reading
1059:
1058:
1031:
1027:
1012:"Did You Know?"
1010:
1009:
1005:
989:
985:
972:
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909:
883:
864:
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825:
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808:
789:
764:
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691:
532:Battle of Lagos
510:
483:Royal Katherine
431:1st Foot Guards
405:
354:Barbary Corsair
271:to a tailor in
253:
222:
195:Battle of Lagos
179:Nine Years' War
154:
151:Royal Katherine
148:
142:
136:
130:
108:1662–1702
92:
90:
72:
70:
59:
55:
54:12 October 1717
38:
23:
12:
11:
5:
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907:
862:
851:Smiles, Samuel
842:
816:
761:
760:
758:
755:
747:
746:
743:
740:
730:
727:
724:
721:
712:
690:
687:
677:He retired to
576:rotten borough
509:
506:
502:Edward Russell
464:siege of Derry
404:
401:
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58:(aged 74)
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1168:
1167:
1161:
1157:
1152:
1148:
1147:Henry Worsley
1144:
1137:
1135:
1130:
1129:Joseph Dudley
1125:
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1079:9781904349150
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751:Edward Hopson
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623:capture Cádiz
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346:Mediterranean
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301:
298:According to
295:
290:
288:
287:
282:
281:Samuel Smiles
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
261:Isle of Wight
258:
248:
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242:
238:
234:
225:
224:Edward Hopson
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26:
19:
16:
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1109:
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1038:
1028:
1020:the original
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996:
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832:
792:
748:
716:
707:
692:
676:
665:
656:
647:
620:
587:
584:
547:
539:Vice Admiral
536:
518:
514:Rear Admiral
511:
488:
482:
468:
459:
457:
439:
419:George Legge
409:
406:
384:
378:vice admiral
372:
366:
340:
337:
323:
317:, as second
311:Samuel Pepys
308:
297:
292:
284:
254:
236:
232:
231:
199:
177:
164:Battles/wars
156:
150:
144:
138:
132:
126:
117:Vice Admiral
56:(1717-10-12)
36:Michael Dahl
15:
1199:1717 deaths
1194:1643 births
1100:Thomas Done
1045:(210): 16.
896:Lee, Sidney
839:(206): 443.
460:Bonaventure
440:Bonaventure
324:Dreadnought
269:apprenticed
139:Bonaventure
1188:Categories
1136:1702–1705
1134:John Leigh
813:required.)
757:References
708:Devonshire
695:Portsmouth
668:Queen Anne
643:the attack
572:Lord Cutts
489:St Michael
427:Lieutenant
397:Portsmouth
319:lieutenant
315:commission
241:Royal Navy
157:St Michael
99:Royal Navy
67:Allegiance
1131:1701–1702
1126:1698–1701
856:Self Help
853:(1897) .
679:Weybridge
653:fire ship
629:lying in
574:, to the
568:Jean Bart
565:privateer
545:with the
367:Centurion
286:Self Help
273:Bonchurch
257:Shalfleet
215:Relations
61:Weybridge
1160:New post
994:(1898).
888:(1891).
559:and off
445:The Nore
435:James II
226:(nephew)
123:Commands
85:Service/
1115:Newtown
898:(ed.).
717:Milford
699:Brading
597:Denmark
580:Newtown
561:Dunkirk
557:Channel
548:Russell
530:at the
508:Admiral
498:captain
451:in the
429:in the
423:Tangier
415:Ireland
403:Captain
381:Herbert
321:of the
302:in the
277:Ventnor
275:, near
259:on the
129:(prize)
1121:With:
1076:
1041:. 11.
835:. 11.
807:
683:Surrey
657:Torbay
648:Torbay
593:Baltic
524:Smyrna
393:ensign
358:nimcha
348:under
341:Dragon
237:Hopson
96:
87:branch
76:
894:. In
661:snuff
553:Cadiz
519:Breda
410:Swann
389:prize
385:Tiger
221:(son)
133:Swann
127:Tiger
1113:for
1074:ISBN
635:boom
631:Vigo
588:Kent
469:York
373:Mary
145:York
113:Rank
51:Died
46:1643
43:Born
1047:doi
799:doi
681:in
614:by
578:of
235:or
1190::
1037:.
1014:.
976:.
948:^
938:.
910:^
865:^
831:.
819:^
765:^
504:.
455:.
289::
1082:.
1053:.
1049::
1043:9
980:.
942:.
837:8
805:.
801::
739:.
720:.
711:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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