View source for James de Courcy Hamilton

{{RearRN}} '''James de Courcy Hamilton''', M.V.O. (1 February, 1860 &ndash; 24 February, 1936) served in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
James de Courcy Hamilton was born in Heacham, Norfolk on 1 February, 1860.

Hamilton passed the competitive examination for admission as a Naval Cadet in late 1872, and joined the Navy in the January 1873 term of the ''Britannia'', alongside [[Reginald Godfrey Otway Tupper|Reginald Tupper]] and [[George John Scott Warrender, Seventh Baronet|George Warrender]], amongst others.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 4 December, 1872.  Issue '''27551''', col F, p. 7.</ref><ref>Hamilton Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/87/108}}</ref>

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Acting {{SubRN}} on 20 March, 1879.{{NLJan80|p. 96}}  In July 1881, he was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant with seniority backdated to 20 March, 1879.  In his qualifying exams, he earned a first-class degree in Seamanship, a second-class in Gunnery, and a third in Navigation.{{NLAug81|p. 95}}{{NLSep81|p. 95}}  His first appointment as a Sub-Lieutenant was to the despatch vessel ''Helicon'' in the Mediterranean, commencing on 17 August, 1881.{{NLSep81|p. 216}}  He was still aboard ''Helicon'' during the  [[Bombardment of Alexandria]], and was specially promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 18 November, 1882, "for services rendered during the recent operations in Egypt".<ref>''The London Gazette'': [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25169/page/5173 (Supplement) no. 25169. p. 5173.] 17 November, 1882.</ref>  After this promotion he left the ''Helicon''.{{NLNov82|p. 216}}

Hamilton was appointed to the composite-hulled sloop ''Dragon'' operating in the East Indies on 10 December, 1882.{{NLNov83|p. 206}}  He left ''Dragon'' near the end of October 1883.{{NLDec83|p. 206}}  He remained unemployed for the first half of 1884 before being appointed to the boys' training ship ''Ganges'' on 25 June, 1884.{{NLNov84|p. 213}}

During the war scare after the Panjdeh Incident, Hamilton left the ''Ganges'' and was appointed additional to the {{UK-Hecla|f=t}} to command the {{UK-2TB3|f=t}} on 28 April, 1885.{{NLApr85|p. 253}}{{NLJul85|p. 214}}  From ''T.B. 3'' he went to {{UK-Vernon}} to qualify as a torpedo Lieutenant on 30 September, 1885.{{NLDec85|p. 256}}

Hamilton was appointed to command the {{UK-TB37|f=t}} on 7 July, 1887, for the year's [[1887 Naval Manoeuvres|Manoeuvres]].<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 2 July, 1887.  Issue '''32114''', col C, p. 12.</ref>

Hamilton was appointed additional to the {{UK-Vernon}} on 28 November, 1890.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Friday, 21 November, 1890.  Issue '''33175''', col F, p. 6.</ref>  Less then a month later he was appointed additional to the {{UK-Orlando|f=t}} for service in the Victorian Naval Defence Force as a Lieutenant ('''T''') on 12 December, 1890.{{NLApr91|p. 239}}

Hamilton was appointed first lieutenant of the {{UK-Howe|f=t}} on 31 October, 1893.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 17 October, 1893  Issue '''34084''', col B, p. 5.</ref>

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 21 December, 1895.{{NLMar00|p. 81}}

Hamilton was appointed to the battleship {{UK-Ramillies|y=1892}} on 30 June, 1898.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 6 July, 1898.  Issue '''35561''', col C, p. 8.</ref>

Hamilton was appointed to command of the ''Hecla'' on 10 July, 1900.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 5 July, 1900.  Issue '''36186''', col D, p. 10.</ref>  A few months later he was appointed to command the {{UK-Defiance|f=t}} on 1 November, 1900.{{NLMar01|p. 245}}  Soon afterwards, he was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1900.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27263/page/82 no. 27623. p. 82.] 4 January, 1901.</ref>  While commanding ''Defiance'', Hamilton married Mabel Eveline Sang in April 1901.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 23 February, 1901.  Issue '''36386''', col F, p. 11.</ref>

Hamilton was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 18 May, 1904.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27678/page/3265 no. 27678. p. 3265.] 20 May, 1904.</ref>  After retirement, Hamilton was appointed Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade, and on at least one occasion was in personal command of firemen in action against a serious fire.<ref>"Fire at Loughborough Junction".  ''The Times''.  Monday, 18 January, 1909.  Issue '''38859''', col E, p. 18.</ref>

Hamilton was present at the Guildhall Banquet on 10 November, 1908.<ref>"Guildhall Banquet".  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 10 November, 1908.  Issue '''38800''', col A, p. 9.</ref>

Hamilton attended a Levée held by King Edward VII at St. James's Palace on 23 February, 1909.<ref>"The King's Levée".  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 23 February, 1909.  Issue '''38891''', col F, p. 14.</ref>

Hamilton was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) dated 19 July, 1909.<ref>''The Edinburgh Gazette'': [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/12163/page/809 no. 12163. p. 809.] 27 July, 1909.</ref>

Hamilton was promoted to {{RearRN}} on the Retired List on 22 July, 1910.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28400/page/5396 no. 28400. p. 5396.] 26 July, 1910.</ref>

On 2 April, 1912, Hamilton presided over a Royal Navy Club dinner at the Whitehall Rooms commemorating Lord Rodney's victory over Comte de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes.<ref>"Court Circular".  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 3 April, 1912.  Issue '''39863''', col B, p. 11.</ref>

In late 1919 he was appointed by Home Secretary Edward Shortt to a Committee "to inquire and report upon the hours, pay, and conditions of service of firemen in professional fire brigades in Great Britain".<ref>"Pay of Firemen".  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 20 December, 1919.  Issue '''42288''', col D, p. 9.</ref>

Hamilton attended a fiftieth anniversary dinner with other surviving officers present at Alexandria at the United Service Academy on 11 July, 1932.  He was the only officer from the ''Helicon'' in attendance, as his shipmate [[Charles Eustace Anson|Charles Anson]] was unable to attend.<ref>"Court Circular".  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 12 July, 1932.  Issue '''46183''', col B, p. 17.</ref>

Hamilton was elected as a Vice-President on the council of the Royal Society of Arts for 1933-34 on 28 June, 1933.<ref>"Royal Society of Arts".  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 1 July, 1933.  Issue '''46485''', col B, p. 10.</ref>

His daughter Doreen married Hilary Norman, second son of Surgeon {{ViceRN}} [[William Henry Norman|Sir William Norman]] in Shanghai during April 1934.<ref>"Court Circular".  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 23 January, 1934.  Issue '''46659''', col B, p. 15.</ref>

Hamilton died at his home, 5 Dawson Place, London, on 24 February, 1936.<ref>"Rear-Admiral Hamilton" (Obituary).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 26 February, 1936.  Issue '''47308''', col D, p. 14.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_de_Courcy_Hamilton}}
{{refend}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
<div name=fredbot:bib>
* "Rear-Admiral Hamilton" (Obituary).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 26 February, 1936.  Issue '''47308''', col D, p. 14.
</div name=fredbot:bib>
{{refend}}

==Service Records==
{{refbegin}}
* {{TNA|ADM 196/38/531.|D7601268}}
* {{TNA|ADM 196/38/534.|D7601271}}
* {{TNA|ADM 196/87/108.|D8115335}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 3 (1878)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 3]]'''<br>28 Apr, 1885{{NLJun85|p. 214}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Weston Little|James W. Little]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 35 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 35]]'''<br>7 Jul, 1887<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 2 July, 1887.  Issue '''32114''', col C, p. 12.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Andrew Fergusson|James A. Fergusson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Durnford|John Durnford]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hecla (1878)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hecla'']]'''<br>10 Jul, 1900<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 5 July, 1900.  Issue '''36186''', col D, p. 10.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Irvine Graham|John I. Graham]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Tower Hamilton|F. T. Hamilton]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Defiance (Torpedo Training School)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Defiance'']]'''<br>1 Nov, 1900|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Edward Eden Carey|C. E. E. Carey]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, James}}

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