Charles Edward Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Hawkins was the Commander of the First Texas Navy
during the Texan Revolution.
and he joined the United States Navy
as a Midshipman.
,
Constellation
and Guerriere
. After serving along the Atlantic seaboard, Hawkins was transferred to the U.S. West Indies Squadron which was commanded by Commodore David Porter
on a mission to suppress piracy
.
In 1826, When Commodore Porter was court-martialed for invading a town in Puerto Rico without authorization, Porter resigned his commission in the U.S. Navy and joined the Mexican Navy
and Hawkins followed his mentor in entering Mexican service.
against the Spanish
fleet which was opposing Mexico
's struggle for independence. Hawkins resigned in 1828 and returned to the United States.
who was opposed to Mexican strongman José Antonio Mexía
on his 1835 Tampico Expedition
. The expedition failed and in 1836, Hawkins approached the governor of Mexican Texas, Henry Smith
, supporting Texas' independence and offering to serve in the new Texas Navy. Smith was impressed with Hawkins' credentials and sent him to New Orleans purchase the United States Revenue
cutter Ingham
. Hawkins did and took command of the newly-acquired schooner naming it the Independence
.
By January 10, 1836, Hawkins in command of the Independence returned to the Texas coast, cruising between Galveston and Tampico
"destroying a considerable number of small craft, with all material on board that could be used to the injury of Texas."
In March 1836, Hawkins took Independence to New Orleans for refitting. When he returned to his base at Matagorda, Texas
, Hawkins was promoted to the rank of Commodore and placed in command of the entire Texas Navy.
After the Texans' defeats at the Battle of the Alamo
and Battle of Goliad
, the Navy had to move its operations further up the coast to Galveston. After the Texans' victory at the Battle of San Jacinto
, Hawkins ordered the fleet south again to blockade the port of Matamoros, Tamaulipas
. Eventually the poor state of the Texan ships forced them all into port with the Independence going to New Orleans for retrofitting in September 1837. There, in February
1837, Hawkins died of smallpox at the home of a Mrs. Hale. Upon his death he was replaced as captain of the Independence by George W. Wheelwright.
Texas Navy
The Texas Navy was the official navy of the Republic of Texas. Two Texas Navies were naval fighting forces. There is a “Third and Honorary” Texas Navy, in which officers are commissioned by the Governor of Texas as Admirals, Commanders and Lieutenants....
during the Texan Revolution.
Early life
Hawkins was born in 1802 in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a Midshipman.
Career in the U.S. Navy
He served on board the frigates ConstitutionUSS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
,
Constellation
USS Constellation (1797)
USS Constellation was a 38-gun frigate, one of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. She was distinguished as the first U.S. Navy vessel to put to sea and the first U.S. Navy vessel to engage and defeat an enemy vessel...
and Guerriere
USS Guerriere (1814)
The first USS Guerriere was the first frigate built in the United States since 1801. The name came from a fast 49-gun British frigate captured and destroyed in a half-hour battle by 19 August 1812. This victory was the United States' first success in the War of 1812.She was built at the...
. After serving along the Atlantic seaboard, Hawkins was transferred to the U.S. West Indies Squadron which was commanded by Commodore David Porter
David Porter (naval officer)
David Porter was an officer in the United States Navy in a rank of commodore and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy.-Life:...
on a mission to suppress piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
.
In 1826, When Commodore Porter was court-martialed for invading a town in Puerto Rico without authorization, Porter resigned his commission in the U.S. Navy and joined the Mexican Navy
Mexican Navy
The Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
and Hawkins followed his mentor in entering Mexican service.
Service in the Mexican Navy
As captain of the Hermón, he saw action in the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
against the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
fleet which was opposing Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's struggle for independence. Hawkins resigned in 1828 and returned to the United States.
Commander of the First Texas Navy
While living in New Orleans, Hawkins became acquainted with Mexican Colonel Jose Antonio MexiaJosé Antonio Mexía
José Antonio Mexía was an 18th-century Mexican politician. He claimed to have been born in Xalapa, Veracruz, but contradicting contemporary reports say he was a native of Cuba....
who was opposed to Mexican strongman José Antonio Mexía
José Antonio Mexía
José Antonio Mexía was an 18th-century Mexican politician. He claimed to have been born in Xalapa, Veracruz, but contradicting contemporary reports say he was a native of Cuba....
on his 1835 Tampico Expedition
Tampico Expedition
The "Battle of Tampico" was fought November 15, 1835, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Gregorio Gómez and the Mexican Centralist garrison engaged Gen. José Antonio Mejía and 150 American volunteers.-Background:...
. The expedition failed and in 1836, Hawkins approached the governor of Mexican Texas, Henry Smith
Henry Smith (Texas Governor)
Henry Smith was first American-born Governor of the Mexican territory of Texas and briefly presided over the revolution there.-Early life:...
, supporting Texas' independence and offering to serve in the new Texas Navy. Smith was impressed with Hawkins' credentials and sent him to New Orleans purchase the United States Revenue
United States Revenue Cutter Service
The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. Throughout its entire existence the Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury...
cutter Ingham
USRC Ingham (1832)
The United States Revenue Cutter Ingham was one of the 13 Coast Guard cutters of the Morris-Taney class. Named for Secretary of the Treasury Samuel D...
. Hawkins did and took command of the newly-acquired schooner naming it the Independence
Texan schooner Independence
The Texan schooner Independence was one of the four schooners of the First Texas Navy . In 1836, Charles Hawkins, a veteran of the United States and Mexican navies, visited Texas Governor Henry Smith, seeking a commission in the new Texas Navy...
.
By January 10, 1836, Hawkins in command of the Independence returned to the Texas coast, cruising between Galveston and Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
"destroying a considerable number of small craft, with all material on board that could be used to the injury of Texas."
In March 1836, Hawkins took Independence to New Orleans for refitting. When he returned to his base at Matagorda, Texas
Matagorda, Texas
Matagorda is an unincorporated community in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. It had a population of approximately 710 in 2000. Matagorda is at the end of State Highway 60 and beginning of Farm to Market Road 2031, which runs over the Intracoastal Waterway and south to the Gulf of Mexico...
, Hawkins was promoted to the rank of Commodore and placed in command of the entire Texas Navy.
After the Texans' defeats at the Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
and Battle of Goliad
Battle of Goliad
The Battle of Goliad was the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution. In the early-morning hours of October 10, 1835, rebellious Texas settlers attacked the Mexican Army soldiers garrisoned at Presidio La Bahía, a fort near the Mexican Texas settlement of Goliad...
, the Navy had to move its operations further up the coast to Galveston. After the Texans' victory at the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
, Hawkins ordered the fleet south again to blockade the port of Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
. Eventually the poor state of the Texan ships forced them all into port with the Independence going to New Orleans for retrofitting in September 1837. There, in February
1837, Hawkins died of smallpox at the home of a Mrs. Hale. Upon his death he was replaced as captain of the Independence by George W. Wheelwright.