Thomas Hopsonn
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Hopsonn was born in Bonchurch
, near Ventnor
on the Isle of Wight
, England in 1642.
Orphaned at an early age he was fostered and apprenticed as a tailor in nearby Niton
.
As a young man he and children of the village sighted the fleet passing to the south of the Island and ran down to the sea to wave at it from Puckaster Cove. Hopsonn, however, took a rowing boat and literally ran away to sea to join the Navy in about 1662.
Shortly afterwards he distinguished himself in a battle with the French by creeping unnoticed to the stern and pulling down a French ensign causing the surrender of the enemy ship. On account of this he became an officer and commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1672. He became a Captain on 21 March 1678 and rose through the ranks to reach Vice Admiral of the Red in 1701, being nicknamed "Snips".
The National Maritime Museum
has an Algerian sword or nimcha
which Hopsonn took from a Barbary Corsair slaver in 1676 when First Lieutenant of HMS Dragon
, having led a boarding party in which he wrenched the weapon from his assailant and ran him through with it. He commanded HMS York
at the Battle of Solebay
(1672) and HMS St Michael
at the Battle of Barfleur
(1690).
Distinguishing himself at the Battle of Beachy Head
in 1690, his moment of fame came in 1702 at the Battle of Vigo Bay
. The British/Dutch commanded by Sir George Rooke pursued a Franco-Spanish fleet carrying silver from South America. The French and Spanish blocked the entrance by a boom formed of ship's masts chained together overlooked by forts. Hopsonn commanded the Red Squadron in his flagship HMS Torbay
and Rooke detailed him to ram the boom and break it. The Torbay did so under heavy fire and was attacked by a fireship. The fireship was a commandeered merchantman carrying snuff
. However the smoke from the snuff doused the fire and the Torbay broke through. The rest of the fleet followed and the Franco-Spanish fleet were heavily defeated. The French and Spanish lost 34 ships, throwing much of the silver overboard. Nevertheless the action proved highly profitable for Rooke's fleet. The Torbay in particular took the cargo of snuff as a prize and sold it in London
, which is credited with the introduction, or at least popularisation of snuff-taking in England.
Hopsonn retired from the Royal Navy
upon the fleet's return to England, being made an Extra Commissioner of the Navy. He returned to the Isle of Wight
in 1705 to sit as one of its Members of Parliament for Newtown
. It is said that when he returned to his foster parents they would not believe who he was, until he sang a nursery song they had taught him as a child.
He was knighted in 1702 by Queen Anne
, and died on 12 October 1717, the fifteenth anniversary of the Battle of Vigo Bay.
, being commissioned as a Lieutenant on 17 February 1691 and promoted Captain on 24 July 1696. Like his brother, Edward Hopsonn became a flag officer, finally reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral of the White on 4 January 1728, and died at sea (aboard the Leopard) on 8 May of that year.
by Samuel Smiles
.
Bonchurch
Bonchurch is a small village to the East of Ventnor, on the southern part of theIsle of Wight, England. It is situated on The Undercliff, which itself is subject to regular landslips. A large section of the settlement is found in Upper Bonchurch, halfway up St Boniface Down on the main A3055 road...
, near Ventnor
Ventnor
Ventnor is a seaside resort and civil parish established in the Victorian era on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It lies underneath St Boniface Down , and is built on steep slopes and cliffs leading down to the sea...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, England in 1642.
Orphaned at an early age he was fostered and apprenticed as a tailor in nearby Niton
Niton, Isle of Wight
Niton is a village on the Isle of Wight, near Ventnor with a thriving population of 1142, supporting two pubs, several churches,a pottery workshop/shop, a pharmacy and 3 local shops including a post office...
.
As a young man he and children of the village sighted the fleet passing to the south of the Island and ran down to the sea to wave at it from Puckaster Cove. Hopsonn, however, took a rowing boat and literally ran away to sea to join the Navy in about 1662.
Shortly afterwards he distinguished himself in a battle with the French by creeping unnoticed to the stern and pulling down a French ensign causing the surrender of the enemy ship. On account of this he became an officer and commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1672. He became a Captain on 21 March 1678 and rose through the ranks to reach Vice Admiral of the Red in 1701, being nicknamed "Snips".
The 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,...
has an Algerian sword or nimcha
Nimcha
A Nimcha is a single-handed sword from northwestern Africa, especially Morocco, a type of scimitar or saif.These blades are usually from the late 18th century onwards and are notable for often using older blades. Many nimcha have European blades from as early as the 17th century, and from as far...
which Hopsonn took from a Barbary Corsair slaver in 1676 when First Lieutenant of HMS Dragon
HMS Dragon (1647)
HMS Dragon was a 38-gun fourth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, built at Chatham and launched in 1647. The term 'frigate' during the period of this ship referred to a method of construction, rather than a role which did not develop until the following century.Her first commission was in the Irish...
, having led a boarding party in which he wrenched the weapon from his assailant and ran him through with it. He commanded HMS York
HMS York (1654)
Marston Moor was a 52-gun third rate frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Blackwall Yard, and launched in 1654....
at the Battle of Solebay
Battle of Solebay
The naval Battle of Solebay took place on 28 May Old Style, 7 June New Style 1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War.-The battle:...
(1672) and HMS St Michael
HMS St Michael (1669)
HMS St Michael was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by John Tippetts of Portsmouth Dockyard and launched in 1669....
at the Battle of Barfleur
Battle of Barfleur
This article deals in detail with the action on 19 May 1692. For an overview of the battle, its background and aftermath, see Battles of Barfleur and La Hogue...
(1690).
Distinguishing himself at the Battle of Beachy Head
Battle of Beachy Head (1690)
The Battle of Beachy Head was a naval engagement fought on 10 July 1690 during the Nine Years' War. The battle was the greatest French tactical naval victory over their English and Dutch opponents during the war...
in 1690, his moment of fame came in 1702 at the Battle of Vigo Bay
Battle of Vigo Bay
The Battle of Vigo Bay, also known as the Battle of Rande , was a naval engagement fought on 23 October 1702 during the opening years of the War of the Spanish Succession. The engagement followed an Anglo-Dutch attempt to capture the Spanish port of Cádiz in September in an effort to secure a naval...
. The British/Dutch commanded by Sir George Rooke pursued a Franco-Spanish fleet carrying silver from South America. The French and Spanish blocked the entrance by a boom formed of ship's masts chained together overlooked by forts. Hopsonn commanded the Red Squadron in his flagship HMS Torbay
HMS Torbay (1693)
HMS Torbay was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 16 December 1693. In 1707, she served as flagship of Rear-Admiral of the Blue Sir John Norris and belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet...
and Rooke detailed him to ram the boom and break it. The Torbay did so under heavy fire and was attacked by a fireship. The fireship was a commandeered merchantman carrying snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
. However the smoke from the snuff doused the fire and the Torbay broke through. The rest of the fleet followed and the Franco-Spanish fleet were heavily defeated. The French and Spanish lost 34 ships, throwing much of the silver overboard. Nevertheless the action proved highly profitable for Rooke's fleet. The Torbay in particular took the cargo of snuff as a prize and sold it in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which is credited with the introduction, or at least popularisation of snuff-taking in England.
Hopsonn retired from the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
upon the fleet's return to England, being made an Extra Commissioner of the Navy. He returned to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in 1705 to sit as one of its Members of Parliament for Newtown
Newtown, Isle of Wight
Newtown is a small hamlet on the Isle of Wight, in England. In medieval times it was a thriving borough.Newtown is located on the large natural harbour on the Island's north-western coast, now mostly a National Nature Reserve owned and managed by the National Trust.The Caul Bourne stream running...
. It is said that when he returned to his foster parents they would not believe who he was, until he sang a nursery song they had taught him as a child.
He was knighted in 1702 by Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
, and died on 12 October 1717, the fifteenth anniversary of the Battle of Vigo Bay.
Edward Hopsonn
The brother of Thomas Hopsonn followed him into the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, being commissioned as a Lieutenant on 17 February 1691 and promoted Captain on 24 July 1696. Like his brother, Edward Hopsonn became a flag officer, finally reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral of the White on 4 January 1728, and died at sea (aboard the Leopard) on 8 May of that year.
Literary References
Hopsonn is given as an example in Self-Help (book)Self-Help (book)
Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct was a book published in 1859 by Samuel Smiles. The second edition of 1866 added Perseverance to the subtitle. It has been called "the bible of mid-Victorian liberalism"....
by Samuel Smiles
Samuel Smiles
-Early life:Born in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, the son of Samuel Smiles of Haddington and Janet Wilson of Dalkeith, Smiles was one of eleven surviving children. The family were strict Cameronians, though when Smiles grew up he was not one of them...
.