Edward Hawke Locker
Encyclopedia
Edward Hawke Locker was an English watercolourist (producing works now in the V&A and British Museum
) and administrator of the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich.
, and was named after his father's patron Admiral Edward Hawke. Entering the navy pay office as a clerk on 1 June 1795, he served in its India department (from 1799) and the board of naval enquiry before becoming a prize agent and Edward Pellew's civil secretary during his East Indies, North Sea and Mediterranean commands from 1804 to 1814. He was in England in July 1802, when he accompanied the French balloonist André-Jacques Garnerin
on his second English ascent during the Peace of Amiens. He also spent time in Spain in 1813 during the Peninsular War
alongside Lord John Russell
, bringing despatches to Wellington
, as well as visiting Napoleon in May 1814 during his Elba
exile.
He was married in 1815 to Eleanor Mary Elizabeth Boucher, whose father the Revd Jonathan Boucher
had once been a friend of George Washington
. Their children included the poet Frederick Locker-Lampson
(1821–1895) and the novelist-journalist Arthur Locker (1828–1893), later the editor of The Graphic
. The couple lived at Windsor
(1815–19) then at Greenwich
(1819 onwards). He was appointed secretary (1819) and then civil commissioner (1824) to the Royal Naval Hospital, which he worked to improve by adding new roads by John Macadam
in the Northumbrian coal mines it owned and in 1824 carrying forward his father's plans for a Naval Gallery in the Hospital's Painted Hall, with a gift of 31 paintings from George IV
(the nucleus of the later National Maritime Museum
). He joined Lord John Russell again as one of the founder members of the Athenaeum Club
. However a mental breakdown in 1844 forced him to retire from running the hospital, and he retired to Iver, where he died five years later.
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
) and administrator of the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich.
Life
He was the fourth (of five) surviving child and youngest son of the Napoelonic-era naval captain William LockerWilliam Locker (Royal Navy)
William Locker was an officer in the Royal Navy, who served with distinction during the eighteenth century. He rose to the rank of captain and held the posts of flag captain and commodore.-Family and early years:...
, and was named after his father's patron Admiral Edward Hawke. Entering the navy pay office as a clerk on 1 June 1795, he served in its India department (from 1799) and the board of naval enquiry before becoming a prize agent and Edward Pellew's civil secretary during his East Indies, North Sea and Mediterranean commands from 1804 to 1814. He was in England in July 1802, when he accompanied the French balloonist André-Jacques Garnerin
André-Jacques Garnerin
André-Jacques Garnerin was the inventor of the frameless parachute. He was born in Paris.His early experiments were based on umbrella-shaped devices...
on his second English ascent during the Peace of Amiens. He also spent time in Spain in 1813 during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
alongside Lord John Russell
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
, bringing despatches to Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, as well as visiting Napoleon in May 1814 during his Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
exile.
He was married in 1815 to Eleanor Mary Elizabeth Boucher, whose father the Revd Jonathan Boucher
Jonathan Boucher
Jonathan Boucher was an English clergyman, teacher and philologist.-Early career:Boucher was born in Blencogo, near Wigton, Cumberland, and educated at the Wigton grammar school. After training in Workington, Jonathan became a teacher at St Bees School and in 1759 went to Virginia, where he became...
had once been a friend of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. Their children included the poet Frederick Locker-Lampson
Frederick Locker-Lampson
[File:Frederick Locker .jpg|thumb|right|[File:Frederick Locker .jpg|thumb|right|[File:Frederick Locker .jpg|thumb|right|[[File:Frederick Locker .jpg|thumb|right|...
(1821–1895) and the novelist-journalist Arthur Locker (1828–1893), later the editor of The Graphic
The Graphic
The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited....
. The couple lived at Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
(1815–19) then at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
(1819 onwards). He was appointed secretary (1819) and then civil commissioner (1824) to the Royal Naval Hospital, which he worked to improve by adding new roads by John Macadam
John Loudon McAdam
John Loudon McAdam was a Scottish engineer and road-builder. He invented a new process, "macadamisation", for building roads with a smooth hard surface that would be more durable and less muddy than soil-based tracks....
in the Northumbrian coal mines it owned and in 1824 carrying forward his father's plans for a Naval Gallery in the Hospital's Painted Hall, with a gift of 31 paintings from George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
(the nucleus of the later National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
). He joined Lord John Russell again as one of the founder members of the Athenaeum Club
Athenaeum Club, London
The Athenaeum Club, usually just referred to as the Athenaeum, is a notable London club with its Clubhouse located at 107 Pall Mall, London, England, at the corner of Waterloo Place....
. However a mental breakdown in 1844 forced him to retire from running the hospital, and he retired to Iver, where he died five years later.