15 Facts About Thomas Hopsonn

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Hopsonn was a Royal Navy officer and politician.

Thomas Hopsonn was working as a tailor's apprentice near Bonchurch, in the Isle of Wight, when the news flew through the village that a squadron of men-of-war was sailing off the island.

Thomas Hopsonn sprang from the shopboard, and ran down with his comrades to the beach, to gaze upon the glorious sight.

However it happened, Thomas Hopsonn seems to have joined the navy by 1662, and was mentioned as a "particular friend" of Samuel Pepys' brother-in-law, Balthazar St Michel, in 1666.

Thomas Hopsonn was given his first commission, as second lieutenant of the Dreadnought, on the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672.

Thomas Hopsonn fought in the Battle of Solebay aboard this vessel, and in all the other battles of the war.

However, Thomas Hopsonn was one of the conspirators within the fleet who supported William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution.

Thomas Hopsonn was promoted to Vice Admiral of the Blue and sailed for the Mediterranean under Sir Francis Wheler with the Russell as his flagship.

Thomas Hopsonn spent the next two years in the Channel and off Dunkirk, attempting to trap the French privateer Jean Bart.

Thomas Hopsonn spent 1699 off the coasts of Ireland and France, with his flag aboard the Kent, in 1700 he went to the Baltic with Rooke to encourage Denmark to withdraw from the Great Northern War.

In 1702, Thomas Hopsonn was once more under the command of Sir George Rooke, as part of the fleet detailed to capture Cadiz.

Thomas Hopsonn was chosen to lead the attack aboard his flagship the Torbay.

On returning to England, Thomas Hopsonn was knighted by Queen Anne for his actions at Vigo Bay and retired from active service.

Thomas Hopsonn was made an Extra Commissioner of the Navy and served as governor of Greenwich Hospital from 1704 to 1708.

Thomas Hopsonn retired to Weybridge in Surrey, where he built a house called Vigo House.