tiles


Note:  Do not rely on this information. It is very old.

Hardy Sir Thomas Masterman

Hardy, Sir Thomas Masterman, Bart., whose name is imperishably associated with that of Nelson, was born in 1769 in Somersetshire, and after seeing a considerable amount of service was made a commander in 1797 and a captain in 1798. As a commander, in the Mutine, he first attracted Nelson's attention, and he accompanied that hero in the pursuit of Bonaparte to Egypt. The battle of the Nile gained him his post-commission to the Vanguard, Nelson's flagship. Nelson took Hardy with him into the VictorY, which he commanded at Trafalgar. After the victory Hardy took his ship to Gibraltar for a hasty refit, and then brought her home with Nelson's body on board. At Nelson's funeral Captain Hardy bore the Banner of Emblems. He was at once created a baronet, and next served on the Halifax, Lisbon, and North American stations. During the war of 1812 he was continually engaged, and upon its conclusion was made a K.C.B. After further service as captain of a royal yacht and as commodore in South America, he attained flag-rank in 1825, and died a vice-admiral and Governor of Greenwich Hospital in 1839.