Anthony Hiley Hoskins
Admiral SIR Anthony Hiley Hoskins, G.C.B. (1 September, 1828 – 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bibliography
- "Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 22 June, 1901. Issue 36488, col D, pg. 9.
Service Record
| Board of Admiralty | ||
| Preceded by Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton |
Senior Naval Lord 1891 – 1893 |
Succeeded by Sir Frederick Richards |
| Preceded by Lord Alcester |
Second Naval Lord 1885 – 1889 |
Succeeded by Sir Henry Fairfax |
