Someone who would have known the names of the two men who died during the night before the Pandora sank was George Hamilton, the surgeon, who published a book about his voyage in the Pandora. No names given, he just told us how they died. Unfortunately for us, he apparently did not think that level of detail was important enough to include in his account. However, quite a lot of information is recoverable regarding Hamilton:
Hamilton was 36 years old when he joined the Pandora from the half pay list; by warrant dd. 10 Aug. 1790. He appeared on 13 Aug. 1790 with a ‘servant’ named George Augustus Hamilton (probably a nephew) and received £29.4s.6d advance pay and £97.12s.8d in ‘neat wages’ on 17 Oct. 1792, when the crew was ‘paid off’. His nephew was discharged -together with all other officers’ servants- on 25 Oct 1790 by Admiralty order; to make room for the extra seamen on board who would be required to crew the Bounty after it had been captured.
Hamilton’s wife was Jane Hamilton, née Bowie, of St Gabriel’s parish, Fenchurch, London, whom he had married (“by licence”) when “in the 37th year of his age” on 31st August 1790 (several months prior to the Pandora’s departure for the South Seas!) in St Margaret’s Pattens, London. (Adm. 6/335)
Although he was also living in St Gabriel’s parish before he married, Hamilton published a voyage account (based on his voyage journal) in 1793 with Wm. Phorsons in Berwick-on-Tweed.(Hamilton, 1793) [Was this his p.o.b; was there a family connection with Phorsons (??)]
19 December 1792: after the court martial of the Bounty mutineers he was warranted as the surgeon of H.M.S. Lowestoff, 5th Rate, 32 guns (Adm. 36/11515 & Adm.118/191).
NB: HMS Lowestoff joined Admiral Hood’s Mediterranean fleet (1793-94). Hood was aware that French republicans in Corsica were short of provisions and stores. He decided to take more active measures than a blockade to prevent supplies being landed; a small squadron, including the Lowestoff was sent from Porto Ferrajo in Elba. The squadron arrived at Mortella Bay in Corsica on 7th February 1794. Troops were landed that evening; and on the following day a combined attack by land and sea was made on Mortella tower; the Fortitude (74) and Juno (32) battering it for two and a half hours. The assault was unsuccessful and the ships had to disengage; the Fortitude lost six killed and fifty-six wounded, having also been set on fire. The fire from the British artillery on shore, however, eventually forced the tower to surrender. The next post attacked was the “Convention Redoubt”, which mounted twenty-one heavy guns, and was considered the key to the town of San Fiorenzo. Seamen from the British squadron manhandled several 18-pounder guns into a commanding position which was considered inaccessible; but after a bombardment on 16th and 17th February, the French defenses on the redoubt were successfully breached. The French garrison retreated to San Fiorenzo, where a few days later they put to the torch La Fortunée and allowed La Minerve (38) to sink as a result of the damage she had suffered from British guns. In this action British losses were considered minimal (Clowes, 1899, IV: 243) However, surgeon Hamilton was probably among the casualties.
15 March 1794 – Listed as “sick”, Hamilton was discharged from the Lowestoff at Livorno (Leghorn, Italy) (Adm. 36/11515)
26 Apr 1794 – A letter from the Navy Board to the Admiralty records that George Hamilton of the Lowestoff had lost his left arm (Adm.12/63:99.1). He was repatriated during April. It is likely that Hamilton suffered this loss during the action against La Fortunée and La Minerve.
1 May 1794 – Hamilton was examined at Surgeon’s Hall, certified as having lost an arm and recommended for superannuation.
2 May 1794 – Hamilton was declared superannuated (Adm.118/191)
1794 – Hamilton is listed in the half-pay register following “discharge” from the Lowestoff (Adm.25/126:57)
1794 – July to December: George Hamilton, “superannuated surgeon of 3rd rate ship, £23.19s. 8d. for six months.” His name appears in following superannuation lists in the same volume; up to December 1796. (Adm.22/17:156)
Invalided out of the RN in 1794 having lost an arm while serving in the Mediterranean fleet, off Corsica, in HMS Lowestoff; he received “superannuation” benefits until his death on 30 Sept 1797 (Adm.6/335/15) Died in London, cf. Adm. 6/335/15 regarding Jane Hamilton, widow of George Hamilton (surgeon RN)
George Hamilton ca. 1793
He was buried on 5 Oct. 1797 in St Luke’s (Chelsea) (London Metropolitan Archives, St Luke’s register of burials P74/LUK-255) His widow received a navy pension of £30 per annum from the charity fund “Relief of Poor Widows of Commissioned and Warrant officers of the Royal Navy” to which Hamilton had been contributing at a ratio of ‘thruppence per pound’ he earned. (Adm. 6/335)
Engraving of George Hamilton (frontispiece Hamilton, 1793)
Reference : Adm. 6/335/15 Description: f. 70. Jane Hamilton, widow of George Hamilton, surgeon Royal Navy who died 30 Sep 1797. Papers submitted to the Charity for the relief of Officers’ Widows. Date: 1797
