Thomas Hurd
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Hannaford Hurd (bapt. 30 January 1747 – 29 April 1823) was an officer of the Royal Navy
, who rose to the rank of captain, becoming the second Admiralty hydrographer
, a Superintendent of Chronometers and a Commissioner for the discovery of longitude
. Hurd Peninsula
is named after him due to his role in the discovery of Antarctica.
aboard , which was then under the command of Captain Molyneux Shuldham
. He served on the Newfoundland and North American stations between 1771 and 1774, part of the time aboard the armed vessel , under Lieutenant Henry Mowat. While with Canceaux Hurd helped Samuel Holland
to make hydrographic surveys. Hurd passed his lieutenant's examination on 1 March 1775, and went on to serve aboard Lord Howe's
flagship
, . Howe appointed Hurd as lieutenant of on 30 January 1777. Unicorn was a frigate, under the command of Captain John Ford, which had a coppered hull
. Being free of barnacles she was able to capture a great deal of enemy shipping and Hurd as Lieutenant gathered a large amount of prize money. After Unicorns return to England she was one of the small squadron engaged under Captain Sir James Wallace in setting fire to three enemy ships and taking the French ship Danae, a brig and a sloop as a prizes in a minor battle on the 13 May 1779 off the French coast at Concale
.
In the Battle of the Saintes
off Dominica
, on 12 April 1782, Hurd was 2nd lieutenant of the Hercules
, from which he was moved into . The Ardent had been recaptured from the French and was one of the prizes. Hurd had the honour of helping her sail her back to England under her commander, Richard Lucas. The battle was a victory for Admiral Sir George Rodney
and Great Britain. Following this Hurd suffered on the ill fated return journey from Jamaica (with Rear-Admiral Thomas Graves
) where there were large losses due to a hurricane. Howe recommended Hurd for the post of surveyor-general of Cape Breton
, to which he was appointed in 1785, but was dismissed the following year by lieutenant-governor Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
.
Hurd was sent to carry out the first exact survey of Bermuda
in 1789, a task which took him nine years. On 18 August 1795 he was promoted to the rank of commander, and to that of captain on 29 April 1802. He captained the sloop in 1804 in a survey of the harbour of Brest and its surrounding coast. In May 1808, following the death of Alexander Dalrymple
, Hurd was the second person to be appointed hydrographer to the admiralty. In the following 15 years, Hurd organised a regular system of surveys and the improved productivity was marked. He is also credited with making sure that his maps, that had been funded by the military, were made available for civilian use by the merchant navy. The Hurd Peninsula
is on the south coast of Livingston Island, in the South Shetland Islands
. It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1961 for Thomas Hurd, RN
. Hurd was chosen as it was under his authority that Antarctica was discovered.
When Hurd died on 29 April 1823, he was a superintendent of chronometers and a commissioner for the discovery of longitude
. Hurd was survived by his wife and he left plantations in both America and the West Indies.
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...
, who rose to the rank of captain, becoming the second Admiralty hydrographer
Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy is a Royal Naval appointment. From 1795 until 2001 the post was responsible for the production of charts for the Royal Navy, and around this post grew the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office...
, a Superintendent of Chronometers and a Commissioner for the discovery of longitude
Board of Longitude
The Board of Longitude was the popular name for the Commissioners for the Discovery of the Longitude at Sea. It was a British Government body formed in 1714 to administer a scheme of prizes intended to encourage innovators to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea.-Origins:Navigators and...
. Hurd Peninsula
Hurd Peninsula
Hurd Peninsula is the land between South Bay and False Bay on the south coast of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The Spanish Antarctic base Juan Carlos I and the Bulgarian Antarctic base St. Kliment Ohridski are situated on the west coast of the peninsula.The feature...
is named after him due to his role in the discovery of Antarctica.
Life
Hurd joined the navy on 1 September 1768, serving as an able seamanAble seaman
An able seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. An AB may work as a watchstander, a day worker, or a combination of these roles.-Watchstander:...
aboard , which was then under the command of Captain Molyneux Shuldham
Molyneux Shuldham, 1st Baron Shuldham
Molyneux Shuldham was an officer of the British Royal Navy. He served for a time as colonial governor of Newfoundland.-Family and early life:...
. He served on the Newfoundland and North American stations between 1771 and 1774, part of the time aboard the armed vessel , under Lieutenant Henry Mowat. While with Canceaux Hurd helped Samuel Holland
Samuel Holland
Samuel Johannes Holland was a Royal Engineer and first Surveyor General of British North America.-Life in the Netherlands:...
to make hydrographic surveys. Hurd passed his lieutenant's examination on 1 March 1775, and went on to serve aboard Lord Howe's
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, . Howe appointed Hurd as lieutenant of on 30 January 1777. Unicorn was a frigate, under the command of Captain John Ford, which had a coppered hull
Copper sheathing
Copper sheathing was the practice of protecting the under-water hull of a ship or boat through the use of copper plates affixed to the outside of the hull. It was pioneered and developed by the Royal Navy during the 18th century.-Development:...
. Being free of barnacles she was able to capture a great deal of enemy shipping and Hurd as Lieutenant gathered a large amount of prize money. After Unicorns return to England she was one of the small squadron engaged under Captain Sir James Wallace in setting fire to three enemy ships and taking the French ship Danae, a brig and a sloop as a prizes in a minor battle on the 13 May 1779 off the French coast at Concale
Cancale
Cancale is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France. It is known as the birthplace of Saint Jeanne Jugan.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Cancale are called Cancalais....
.
In the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
off Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
, on 12 April 1782, Hurd was 2nd lieutenant of the Hercules
HMS Hercules (1759)
HMS Hercules was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 March 1759 at Deptford Dockyard.She was sold out of the service in 1784....
, from which he was moved into . The Ardent had been recaptured from the French and was one of the prizes. Hurd had the honour of helping her sail her back to England under her commander, Richard Lucas. The battle was a victory for Admiral Sir George Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
and Great Britain. Following this Hurd suffered on the ill fated return journey from Jamaica (with Rear-Admiral Thomas Graves
Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves
|-|-...
) where there were large losses due to a hurricane. Howe recommended Hurd for the post of surveyor-general of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, to which he was appointed in 1785, but was dismissed the following year by lieutenant-governor Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres (November 22, 1721 – October 27, 1824 (or October 24, 1824 ) was a Swiss-born cartographer and Canadian statesman, who served as aide-de-camp to General James Wolfe...
.
Hurd was sent to carry out the first exact survey of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in 1789, a task which took him nine years. On 18 August 1795 he was promoted to the rank of commander, and to that of captain on 29 April 1802. He captained the sloop in 1804 in a survey of the harbour of Brest and its surrounding coast. In May 1808, following the death of Alexander Dalrymple
Alexander Dalrymple
Alexander Dalrymple was a Scottish geographer and the first Hydrographer of the British Admiralty. He was the main proponent of the theory that there existed a vast undiscovered continent in the South Pacific, Terra Australis Incognita...
, Hurd was the second person to be appointed hydrographer to the admiralty. In the following 15 years, Hurd organised a regular system of surveys and the improved productivity was marked. He is also credited with making sure that his maps, that had been funded by the military, were made available for civilian use by the merchant navy. The Hurd Peninsula
Hurd Peninsula
Hurd Peninsula is the land between South Bay and False Bay on the south coast of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The Spanish Antarctic base Juan Carlos I and the Bulgarian Antarctic base St. Kliment Ohridski are situated on the west coast of the peninsula.The feature...
is on the south coast of Livingston Island, in the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
. It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1961 for Thomas Hurd, RN
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...
. Hurd was chosen as it was under his authority that Antarctica was discovered.
When Hurd died on 29 April 1823, he was a superintendent of chronometers and a commissioner for the discovery of longitude
Board of Longitude
The Board of Longitude was the popular name for the Commissioners for the Discovery of the Longitude at Sea. It was a British Government body formed in 1714 to administer a scheme of prizes intended to encourage innovators to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea.-Origins:Navigators and...
. Hurd was survived by his wife and he left plantations in both America and the West Indies.