Hotham was educated at
Westminster School and at the
Royal Naval Academy, Portsmouth. He entered the navy in 1751, and spent most of his midshipman's time in American waters. In 1755 he became lieutenant in Admiral Sir
Edward Hawke's flagship
St George and he soon received a small command, which led gradually to higher posts. In
Syren (20) he fought a sharp action with the French
Telemaque of superior force, and in the
sloop Fortune he carried, by boarding, a 26-gun privateer. For this service, he was rewarded with a more powerful ship, and from 1757 onwards commanded various
frigates. In 1759 his ship
Melampe, with
Southampton, fought a spirited action with two hostile frigates of similar force, one of which became their prize.
Melampe was attached to
Augustus Keppel's squadron in 1761, but was in the main employed in detached duty and made many captures. In 1776, as a
Commodore, Hotham served in North American waters, and he had a great share in the
Battle of St. Lucia (15 December 1778). In November 1795, he was replaced as commander of the Mediterranean Fleet by
Admiral Jervis and returned to England, and in 1797 he was made a peer of Ireland under the title of Baron Hotham of South Dalton, near
Hull. He died in 1813. According to the
Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Hotham lacked the fiery energy and genius of a Nelson or a
Jervis, but in subordinate positions, he was a brave and capable officer. As Hotham died unmarried, his barony passed to his brother, Sir
Beaumont Hotham (1737–1814), who became 2nd Baron Hotham in May 1813. Beaumont, who was a baron of the exchequer for thirty years, died on 4 March 1814, and was succeeded as 3rd baron by his grandson Beaumont Hotham (1794–1870), who was present at the
Battle of Waterloo, being afterwards a member of parliament for forty-eight years. He died unmarried in December 1870 and was succeeded by his nephew, Charles (1836–1872), and then by another nephew, John (1838–1907). In 1907 his cousin Frederick William (born 1863) became the 6th baron. Other distinguished members of this family were the 2nd baron's son, Sir
Henry Hotham (1777–1833), a vice-admiral, who saw a great deal of service during the
Napoleonic Wars; and
Sir William Hotham (1772–1848), a nephew of the 1st baron, who served with
Adam Duncan in 1797 at the
Battle of Camperdown and elsewhere. ==References==