James Eaton
Encyclopedia
James Eaton was an officer of the Royal Navy
. He served aboard at the Battle of Trafalgar
; as signal midshipman
, he was the first person to pass on Nelson
's famous signal to the fleet; "England expects that every man will do his duty
".
. He was serving aboard the 74-gun during the Battle of Algeciras Bay
on 6 July 1801. Hannibal was captured during the battle. Eaton was repatriated at some stage and by 1803 was a midshipman aboard when she cut out several vessels in Quiberon Bay
. He was appointed signal midshipman aboard HMS Temeraire by 1805, and served as such at Trafalgar, being promoted to lieutenant the following year.
He was later wounded while serving aboard when taking a convoy out to China. He served at the capture of Java
in 1811, and in 1813 distinguished himself while aboard when he helped in the rescue of the crew of a Swedish vessel. He finally retired from the navy with the rank of commander
in 1842. He was subsequently awarded the Naval General Service Medal with two clasps for the actions he had served in during his naval career.
He settled in West Bromwich
in 1837, and by 1839 he was living at Hill House where he died in either 1856 or 1857. He is buried at All Saints Church in Charlemont
, West Bromwich. In 2005 as part of the Trafalgar bicentenary
celebrations his memorial in All Saints Churchyard was rededicated.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He served aboard at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
; as signal midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, he was the first person to pass on Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
's famous signal to the fleet; "England expects that every man will do his duty
England expects that every man will do his duty
"England expects that every man will do his duty" was a signal sent by Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson from his flagship HMS Victory as the Battle of Trafalgar was about to commence on 21 October 1805. Trafalgar was the decisive naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars...
".
Career
Born in London in 1783, Eaton entered the navy in 1799 during the French Revolutionary WarsFrench Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. He was serving aboard the 74-gun during the Battle of Algeciras Bay
Battle of Algeciras Bay
The Battle of Algeciras Bay refers to two separate battles in July 1801 between an allied French-Spanish fleet and the British near Gibraltar. In the first battle, the French drove off an attack by the larger British fleet and captured one ship of the line...
on 6 July 1801. Hannibal was captured during the battle. Eaton was repatriated at some stage and by 1803 was a midshipman aboard when she cut out several vessels in Quiberon Bay
Quiberon Bay
The Baie de Quiberon is an area of sheltered water on the south coast of Brittany. The bay is in the Morbihan département.-Geography:The bay is roughly triangular in shape, open to the south with the Gulf of Morbihan to the north-east and the narrow peninsular of Presqu'île de Quiberon providing...
. He was appointed signal midshipman aboard HMS Temeraire by 1805, and served as such at Trafalgar, being promoted to lieutenant the following year.
He was later wounded while serving aboard when taking a convoy out to China. He served at the capture of Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
in 1811, and in 1813 distinguished himself while aboard when he helped in the rescue of the crew of a Swedish vessel. He finally retired from the navy with the rank of commander
Commander (Royal Navy)
Commander is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is immediately junior to captain and immediately senior to the rank of lieutenant commander...
in 1842. He was subsequently awarded the Naval General Service Medal with two clasps for the actions he had served in during his naval career.
He settled in West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
in 1837, and by 1839 he was living at Hill House where he died in either 1856 or 1857. He is buried at All Saints Church in Charlemont
Charlemont and Grove Vale
Charlemont and Grove Vale is a political ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the English Midlands constituency of West Bromwich East....
, West Bromwich. In 2005 as part of the Trafalgar bicentenary
Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the United Kingdom to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, where a British fleet led by Admiral Nelson defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. During the summer of 2005 there was an...
celebrations his memorial in All Saints Churchyard was rededicated.