David Atkins (Royal Navy officer)

Captain David Atkins (died 24 December 1811) was a Royal Navy officer. He is first noted as a midshipman under Captain Erasmus Gower in HMS Edgar in 1780-1. He was later first lieutenant under Gower in HMS Triumph from 1794 and was promoted captain in 1798. He died when in command of HMS Defence when the vessel went aground and broke up off Jutland on 24 December 1811 with the loss of 593 men.