Thomas Masterman Hardy, a naval officer whose fame is forever interconnected with that of Nelson had a remarkable naval career attaining appointment to the Admiralty board and as governor of the Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich.
Hardy was born in the county of Dorset on April 5, 1769. At the age of 12 he entered the Royal Navy on the brig Helena as a ship’s servant but left five months later to attend school for the next three years. However, as was frequent practice he was kept on the books aboard the guardships Seaford and Carnatic. He entered the merchant service before returning to the navy in February 1790 joining the Hebe.
Early Naval Career, 1793-1797
He moved to the sloop Tisiphone and in May 1793 followed Captain Anthony Hunt to the frigate Amphitrite headed to the Mediterranean. On November 10, 1793 Hardy was promoted to lieutenant of the frigate Meleager under the command of Horatio Nelson. Hardy would later recall that this was the first time he crossed paths with the legendary sea hero.
Hardy was with Meleager when Captain George Cockburn succeeded command until August 1796 when he was sent to the Minerve. He was present when Nelson raised his flag on her in December 1796. Hardy distinguished himself during an action involving an encounter with the Spanish ship Sabina, when as part of the prize crew drew away the Spanish squadron from Minerve. However, the action ended with Lieutenants Hardy and Culverhouse becoming prisoners of war. They were exchanged and rejoined Minerve at Gibraltar.
On February 10, 1797 as the frigate passed the straits with the Spanish fleet in pursuit, in order to save a drowning man Hardy jumped into the jolly boat and was carried by the current towards the Spanish ships. Nelson not wanting to lose who he considered a valuable officer proclaimed, “By God, I’ll not lose Hardy! Back the mizen topsail!” allowing the boat to reach the frigate and safety. Three days later they joined the fleet playing a role in the decisive English victory at Cape St Vincent on February 14.
The Battle of the Nile??
In May 1797 the Lively and Minerve discovered the French brig of war Mutine. Under the command of Hardy the frigates’ boats were able to take the French ship earning Hardy command of the prize. It was in command of the Mutine that Hardy rejoined Nelson near Elba in June 1798 and was later present at the Battle of the Nile on August 1-2, 1798. The British effectively stranded the French army in Egypt cutting them off from receiving supplies and ending any chance of Napoleon interfering with British interest in India. Hardy was promoted to Captain and given command of Vanguard Nelson’s flagship.
Nelson with Hardy, Saumarez, Troubridge, Hood, Louis, and ten other Nile captains, the 'band of brothers', would be forever immortalized in this decisive victory.
Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805
Hardy would continue with Nelson until October 1799 when he returned to England. But in 1801 was once again flag captain under Nelson. After taking part in the battle of Copenhagen and serving on several other ships Hardy once again found himself with Nelson in May 1803 taking him to the Mediterranean aboard Victory. Hardy would still be in command of Victory when again he embarked on her on September 14, 1805.
The Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805 marked a decisive victory over the French confirming British naval supremacy due in large part to Nelson’s departure from following the prevalent naval tactics. Hardy was present to witness Nelson’s last will and was with him when Nelson was fatally wounded by a French sharpshooter. Hardy continued to attend to him in his last hours and it was to him that Nelson’s dying words were uttered, “Kiss me, Hardy”.
Nelson’s body was sent home in the Victory and at the funeral on January 9, 1806 Hardy carried the ‘banner of emblems’.
Late Naval Career, 1806-1839
On February 4 Hardy was created a baronet and sent to command the North American station aboard Triumph for the next three years. In 1809 he hoisted his pennant as commander-in-chief at Lisbon and continued in that role until September 1812. He was once again sent to the North American station where in 1813 he blockaded an American squadron under the command of Captain Stephen Decatur off of New London.
In 1815 Hardy was nominated a Knight Commander in the Order of Bath. He was variously appointed to various ships, Princes Augusta from 1816-1819 and Superb from 1819-1824. In 1825 he became rear-admiral and on October 21 1827 he struck his flag and retired from the sea.
The last years of his life Hardy joined the Admiralty board as first sea lord, refused to enter Parliament, and worked as surveyor of the navy using his expertise to improve sailing performance ad fighting strength of the battle fleet. He left office in April 1834 to become governor of the Royal Naval Hospital at Greenwich. The rest of his life was devoted to the pensioners in his care. He was commissioned a vice-admiral in January 1837. He died at the hospital on September 20, 1839 and buried in its old cemetery.
Source: Laughton, J.K. Hardy, Sir Thomas Masterman, baronet (1769-1839), naval officer, rev. Andrew Lambert (Oxford: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edn, Oxford University Press, May 2007 [accessed 21 April 2010]
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