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{{AdmRN}} S<small>IR</small> '''Anthony Hiley Hoskins''', G.C.B. ([[1 September]], [[1828]] &ndash; [[21 June]], [[1901]]) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
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{{AdmRN}} {{SIR}} '''Anthony Hiley Hoskins''', G.C.B., Royal Navy (1 September, 1828 &ndash; 21 June, 1901) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
  
Hoskins was born at North Perrott, near Crewkerne, Somerset, on 1 September 1828, was fourth son of Henry Hoskins (1790–1876), rector of North Perrott, and his wife, Mary, daughter of William Phelips of Montacute. After briefly attending Winchester College (1841–2) Hoskins entered the navy in April 1842, with a proficiency in classical learning unusual for his age. He remained on his first ship, the Conway, for some years, participating in fights with Arab slavers off the east coast of Africa and in the attack on Tamatave, Madagascar. Afterwards, in the President, he continued on the same station on similar service. On 26 May 1849 he was made lieutenant, and, while in the Castor on the Cape station, was lent to Sir Henry Smith as aide-de-camp during the Cape Frontier War of 1851–2. In 1857 he took the gunboat Slaney to China, taking part in the capture of Canton (Guangzhou) on 28 December. For this he was promoted to commander, on 26 February 1858, but remained in the Slaney. In May he was in the Gulf of Po Hai (Bohai), and was present at the capture of the Taku (Dagu) forts and in the operations in the Peiho (Beihe) leading to the occupation of Tientsin (Tianjin). On 12 December 1863 he was promoted captain.
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==Life & Career==
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{{DNB}}
 +
Hoskins born at North Perrott near Crewkerne, Somerset, on 1 Sept. 1828, was the fourth son of Henry Hoskins (1790–1876), rector of North Perrott, by his wife Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Phelips of Montacute. The Somerset branch of the Hoskins family settled in that county in the seventeenth century. Mary, daughter of Richard Hoskins, of a related branch of the family (of Beaminster, Dorset), married Samuel Hood and was mother of the two admirals, Samuel Hood, first Lord Hood, and Alexander Hood, first Lord Bridport. From school at Winchester Hoskins entered the navy in April 1842, taking with him a proficiency in classical learning unusual at his early age. In his first ship, the ''Conway'', he is said, probably with some exaggeration, to have acted as Greek coach to one of the lieutenants, Montagu Burrows. In the ''Conway'' Hoskins remained for some years, participating in several fights with Arab slavers in the Mozambique and in the attack on Tamatave.{{ClowesVI|pp. 345-6}} Afterwards, in the ''President'', he continued on the same station, employed on similar service.
  
From 1869 to 1872 Hoskins commanded the Eclipse on the North American station, and in 1873–4 the Sultan, in the Channel Fleet; from 1875 to 1878 he was commodore in Australian waters. In 1877 he was appointed a CB; he became a rear-admiral on 15 June 1879, and from 1880 was a lord commissioner of the Admiralty. From this post, in 1882, he was sent to the Mediterranean, after the bombardment of Alexandria, to secure the Suez Canal and act as second in command. On his return, in the winter, he was nominated KCB, and until June 1885, when he became vice-admiral, he was superintendent of naval reserves. He was then for nearly four years a junior naval lord of the Admiralty. From March 1889 he was commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean until June 1891, when he was promoted admiral, and was appointed senior naval lord of the Admiralty.
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On 26 May 1849 he was made lieutenant, and while in the ''Castor'' on the [[Cape of Good Hope Station|Cape Station]] was lent to Sir Henry Smith as A.d.C. during the Kaffir war of 1851–2. In 1857 he took the gunboat ''Slaney'' out to China, and in her took part in the capture of Canton on 28 Dec. This won for him his promotion to commander's rank on 26 Feb. 1858; but remaining in the ''Slaney'', he was in her in May in the gulf of Pe-che-li, and was present at the reduction of the Taku forts and in the operations in the Pei-ho leading to the occupation of Tien-tsin. On 12 Dec. 1863 he was promoted to be captain. In 1869–72 he commanded the ''Eclipse'' on the North American station; in 1873–4 the ''Sultan'', in the Channel fleet; and in 1875–8 was commodore in Australian waters. On 22 January, 1877, Hoskins was appointed a [[Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to Queen Victoria, vice Stirling.{{Gaz|24413|502|2 February, 1877}}  On the occasion of the Queen's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 2 June.{{Gaz|24467|3497|2 June, 1877}}  He was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 15 June 1879, and from 1880 was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, from which post he was sent out to the Mediterranean, where the Egyptian troubles after the [[Bombardment of Alexandria|bombardment of Alexandria]] were urgently calling for reinforcements.
  
At the Admiralty, Hoskins had proved to be a capable and successful second naval lord under Lord George Hamilton and Admiral Hood. When Hamilton compared the two admirals he found Hoskins ‘more adaptable and versatile’ than Hood, but ‘with less motive power’ (Hamilton, 87). This limitation was exposed by his later term as senior naval lord under Lord Spencer. Hoskins's views were moderate on most issues, though he was a disciple of the pure ‘blue water’ strategy of the day that opposed all forts. However, his term in the Mediterranean left him anxious for the squadron there, to the extent of urging the need for a 25 per cent superiority over the French fleet as the only alternative to the complete abandonment of that sea on the outbreak of war in favour of a defensive concentration in the channel. His moderate views on the shipbuilding effort required in 1892–3 did not find favour with his more dynamic colleagues, Admiral Sir Frederick Richards and Captain John Fisher. Even before Hoskins retired, Richards and Fisher had taken control of policy, and they secured the ‘Spencer programme’ of 1894. A talented and able officer, Hoskins proved ill suited to high command afloat or ashore: he made little impression in the Mediterranean, and none at the Admiralty.
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On 17 November, 1882, he was knighted and appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).{{Gaz|25169|5166|17 November, 1882}}  To June 1885, when he became vice-admiral, he was superintendent of naval reserves, and was then for nearly four years again a lord commissioner of the admiralty. From March 1889 he was commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean till 20 June 1891, when he was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}}, vice [[Leveson Eliot Henry Somerset|Somerset]],{{Gaz|26174|3300|23 June, 1891}} and was appointed [[First Sea Lord|Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty]].
  
Hoskins retired on reaching the age limit, on 1 September 1893; he was nominated GCB in November. He then lived mostly in London, taking much interest in naval and geographical societies.
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In accordance with the provisions of the [[Order in Council of 22 February, 1870]], he was placed on the Retired List on 1 September, 1893.{{Gaz|26438|5057|5 September, 1893}}  He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 17 November.{{Gaz|26459|6423|17 November, 1893}}  In his retirement he lived mostly in London, taking much interest in naval and geographical societies till his death, which took place at Capel, near Dorking, on 21 June 1901. He was buried at North Perrott, when the king and the admiralty were officially represented. His portrait was executed by Henry Tanworth Wells, R.A., in 1901 for Grillion's Club. A caricature by "Spy" appeared in ''Vanity Fair'' during 1883.
  
Hoskins married, on 27 October 1865, Dorothea Ann Eliza (d. 7 Oct 1901), second daughter of the Revd Sir George Stamp Robinson, seventh baronet. They had no children. He died at Pleystons Capel, near Dorking, Surrey, on 21 June 1901, and was buried at North Perrott. Stern, strict, and even severe in service relations, he was, in private, most genial.
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Stern, strict, and even severe in his service relations, he was in his private and personal character one of the most genial of men.
  
==Footnotes==
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He married, on 27 Oct. 1865, Dorothea Ann Eliza, second daughter of the Rev. Sir George Stamp Robinson, seventh baronet. She died on 7 Oct. 1901, without issue.
<small>
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<references/>
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==See Also==
</small>
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{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Hoskins}}
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
<small>
+
{{refbegin}}
*"Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 22 June, 1901.  Issue '''36488''', col D, pg. 9.
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* "Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 22 June, 1901.  Issue '''36488''', col D, p. 9.
</small>
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* {{GordonRules2005}}
 +
{{refend}}
  
==Service Record==
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==Service Records==
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7903984&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/16]
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{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7894084&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/36]
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* {{TNA|ADM 196/16/280|D7588514}}
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* {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1682|D7578618}}
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{{refend}}
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 +
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 +
{{TabNaval}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Westby Vansittart|Edward W. Vansittart]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Sultan (1870)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Sultan'']]'''<br>30 Jul, 1873{{NMI|31 July 1873, p. 5}} &ndash; 26 Apr, 1875|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Ernest Albert, Third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Graham Goodenough|James G. Goodenough]]'''|'''[[Australian Station|Commander-in-Chief, Australian Station]]'''<br>7 Sep, 1875{{ClowesVII|p. 89}} &ndash; 12 Sep, 1878{{ClowesVII|p. 89}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Coke Wilson|John C. Wilson]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Edmund Commerell|J. Edmund Commerell]]'''|'''[[Fourth Sea Lord|Junior Naval Lord]]'''<br>13 May, 1880<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref> &ndash; 7 Jul, 1882<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick William Richards|Frederick W. Richards]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alfred Ernest Albert, Third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh]]'''|'''[[Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves|Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves]]'''<br>23 Nov, 1882<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 634.</ref> &ndash; 1884{{FC}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Kennedy Erskine Baird|John K. E. Baird]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, First Baron Alcester|The Rt. Hon. Lord Alcester]]'''|'''[[Second Sea Lord|Second Naval Lord]]'''<br>2 Jul, 1885{{UKNavalStaff|p. 119}}<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref> &ndash; 28 Dec, 1888<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Vesey Hamilton|Sir R. Vesey Hamilton]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alfred Ernest Albert, Third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh]]'''|'''[[Mediterranean Station|Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station]]'''<br>11 Mar, 1889{{ClowesVII|p. 87}}<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref> &ndash; 20 Aug, 1891<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Tryon|Sir George Tryon]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Vesey Hamilton|Sir R. Vesey Hamilton]]'''|'''[[First Sea Lord|First Naval Lord]]'''<br>28 Sep, 1891{{UKNavalStaff|p. 118}}<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref> &ndash; Oct, 1893<ref>Hoskins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1846.|}} f. 634.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick William Richards|Sir Frederick W. Richards]]'''}}
 +
{{TabEnd}}
 +
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 +
 
 +
==Footnotes==
 +
{{reflist}}
  
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoskins, Anthony Hiley}}
|-
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| colspan="3" align="center" style="background:#CEDFF2" | '''Board of Admiralty'''
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|-
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Vesey Hamilton|Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton]]'''
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[First Sea Lord|Senior Naval Lord]]'''<br>1891 &ndash; 1893
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick William Richards|Sir Frederick Richards]]'''
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|-
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''Lord Alcester'''
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Second Sea Lord|Second Naval Lord]]'''<br>1885 &ndash; 1889
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Fairfax|Sir Henry Fairfax]]'''
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|-
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|}
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[[Category:1828 deaths|Hoskins]]
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{{CatPerson|UK|1828|1901}}
[[Category:1901 deaths|Hoskins]]
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{{CatAdm|UK}}
[[Category:Personalities|Hoskins]]
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{{CatBritannia|Pre}}
[[Category:Second Sea Lords|Hoskins]]
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{{CatRN}}
[[Category:First Sea Lords|Hoskins]]
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[[Category:Royal Navy Admirals|Hoskins]]
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[[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Hoskins]]
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Latest revision as of 11:15, 7 April 2022

Admiral SIR Anthony Hiley Hoskins, G.C.B., Royal Navy (1 September, 1828 – 21 June, 1901) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

This article may temporarily contain text from an edition of the Dictionary of National Biography which is in the Public Domain.

Hoskins born at North Perrott near Crewkerne, Somerset, on 1 Sept. 1828, was the fourth son of Henry Hoskins (1790–1876), rector of North Perrott, by his wife Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Phelips of Montacute. The Somerset branch of the Hoskins family settled in that county in the seventeenth century. Mary, daughter of Richard Hoskins, of a related branch of the family (of Beaminster, Dorset), married Samuel Hood and was mother of the two admirals, Samuel Hood, first Lord Hood, and Alexander Hood, first Lord Bridport. From school at Winchester Hoskins entered the navy in April 1842, taking with him a proficiency in classical learning unusual at his early age. In his first ship, the Conway, he is said, probably with some exaggeration, to have acted as Greek coach to one of the lieutenants, Montagu Burrows. In the Conway Hoskins remained for some years, participating in several fights with Arab slavers in the Mozambique and in the attack on Tamatave.[1] Afterwards, in the President, he continued on the same station, employed on similar service.

On 26 May 1849 he was made lieutenant, and while in the Castor on the Cape Station was lent to Sir Henry Smith as A.d.C. during the Kaffir war of 1851–2. In 1857 he took the gunboat Slaney out to China, and in her took part in the capture of Canton on 28 Dec. This won for him his promotion to commander's rank on 26 Feb. 1858; but remaining in the Slaney, he was in her in May in the gulf of Pe-che-li, and was present at the reduction of the Taku forts and in the operations in the Pei-ho leading to the occupation of Tien-tsin. On 12 Dec. 1863 he was promoted to be captain. In 1869–72 he commanded the Eclipse on the North American station; in 1873–4 the Sultan, in the Channel fleet; and in 1875–8 was commodore in Australian waters. On 22 January, 1877, Hoskins was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria, vice Stirling.[2] On the occasion of the Queen's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 2 June.[3] He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 15 June 1879, and from 1880 was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, from which post he was sent out to the Mediterranean, where the Egyptian troubles after the bombardment of Alexandria were urgently calling for reinforcements.

On 17 November, 1882, he was knighted and appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[4] To June 1885, when he became vice-admiral, he was superintendent of naval reserves, and was then for nearly four years again a lord commissioner of the admiralty. From March 1889 he was commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean till 20 June 1891, when he was promoted to the rank of Admiral, vice Somerset,[5] and was appointed Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty.

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, he was placed on the Retired List on 1 September, 1893.[6] He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 17 November.[7] In his retirement he lived mostly in London, taking much interest in naval and geographical societies till his death, which took place at Capel, near Dorking, on 21 June 1901. He was buried at North Perrott, when the king and the admiralty were officially represented. His portrait was executed by Henry Tanworth Wells, R.A., in 1901 for Grillion's Club. A caricature by "Spy" appeared in Vanity Fair during 1883.

Stern, strict, and even severe in his service relations, he was in his private and personal character one of the most genial of men.

He married, on 27 Oct. 1865, Dorothea Ann Eliza, second daughter of the Rev. Sir George Stamp Robinson, seventh baronet. She died on 7 Oct. 1901, without issue.

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 22 June, 1901. Issue 36488, col D, p. 9.
  • Gordon, Andrew (2005). The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command. London: John Murray (Publishers). ISBN 0719561310. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Edward W. Vansittart
Captain of H.M.S. Sultan
30 Jul, 1873[8] – 26 Apr, 1875
Succeeded by
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh
Preceded by
James G. Goodenough
Commander-in-Chief, Australian Station
7 Sep, 1875[9] – 12 Sep, 1878[10]
Succeeded by
John C. Wilson
Preceded by
J. Edmund Commerell
Junior Naval Lord
13 May, 1880[11] – 7 Jul, 1882[12]
Succeeded by
Frederick W. Richards
Preceded by
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh
Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves
23 Nov, 1882[13] – 1884[Fact Check]
Succeeded by
John K. E. Baird
Preceded by
The Rt. Hon. Lord Alcester
Second Naval Lord
2 Jul, 1885[14][15] – 28 Dec, 1888[16]
Succeeded by
Sir R. Vesey Hamilton
Preceded by
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station
11 Mar, 1889[17][18] – 20 Aug, 1891[19]
Succeeded by
Sir George Tryon
Preceded by
Sir R. Vesey Hamilton
First Naval Lord
28 Sep, 1891[20][21] – Oct, 1893[22]
Succeeded by
Sir Frederick W. Richards

Footnotes

  1. Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VI. pp. 345-6.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 24413. p. 502. 2 February, 1877.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 24467. p. 3497. 2 June, 1877.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 25169. p. 5166. 17 November, 1882.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 26174. p. 3300. 23 June, 1891.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 26438. p. 5057. 5 September, 1893.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 26459. p. 6423. 17 November, 1893.
  8. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 31 July 1873, p. 5.
  9. Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 89.
  10. Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 89.
  11. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  12. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  13. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 634.
  14. The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 119.
  15. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  16. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  17. Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 87.
  18. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  19. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  20. The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 118.
  21. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.
  22. Hoskins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1846. f. 634.