Sir Graham Hamond, 2nd Baronet

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Graham Eden Hamond, 2nd Baronet GCB (1779–1862) was a British Royal Navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.

He was the only son of Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, Bart., F.R.S., and was born in Newman Street, London, on 30 December 1779. He entered the navy as a Captain's Servant on board his father's ship HMS Irresistible (74) on 3 September 1785, at the age of 5½, his name remaining on the ships books until March 1790. In January 1793, when a 12-year old midshipman in HMS Phaeton, he assisted in the capture of Le Général Dumourier and other ships, and received his portion of a large amount of prize money. On board HMS Queen Charlotte (100), the flagship of Earl Howe, he shared in the victory of 1 June 1794.

Becoming a lieutenant on 19 October 1796 (two months before his 17th birthday, two years before the legal minimum age) he served in various ships in the Mediterranean and on the home stations. His first sole command was in the HM Sloop Echo (18), in which vessel in 1798 he was employed in the blockade of Le Havre, and on different occasions took charge of convoys. He was made a Post-Captain on 30 November, and in the following year, when in command of HMS Champion (24), was at the blockade of Malta, where he occasionally served on shore at the siege of Valletta.

In HMS Blanche (36) he was present at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801, and on the Sunday following the action held the prayer-book from which Nelson read thanks to God. From 21 February to 12 November 1803 Hamond commanded HMS Plantagenet (74), and captured Le Courier de Terre Neuve and L'Atalante. In 1804 he took charge of HMS Lively (38), and with that frigate captured, on 5 October, three Spanish frigates laden with treasure (London Gazette, 1804, p. 1309), and on 7 December the San Miguel, another treasure ship. He was at the reduction of Flushing in HMS Victorious (74) in 1809.

After this period he was invalided for some years until 1824, when in HMS Wellesley (74) he conveyed Lord Stuart de Rothesay to Brazil. Being advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on 27 May 1825, he was ordered to England in HMS Spartiate (74), charged with the delivery during the voyage of the treaty of separation between Brazil and Portugal to the king of Portugal, who on its reception created him a knight commander of the Tower and Sword, an order, however, which, as it was not obtained for war service, he was not permitted to wear.

His last employment was on the South American station, where he was commander-in-chief from 16 September 1834 to 17 May 1838. He attained the rank of Vice Admiral on 10 January 1837, of Admiral on 22 January 1847, and of Admiral of the Fleet on 10 November 1862.

He was gazetted C.B. on 4 June 1815, and K.C.B. on 13 September 1831. On 12 September 1828, on the death of his father, he succeeded as the second baronet, and on 5 July 1855 he was raised to a G.C.B. He died at Norton Lodge, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, on 20 December 1862.

He married, on 30 December 1806, Elizabeth, daughter of John Kimber of Fowey, Cornwall, by whom he had two sons, Andrew Snape, who succeeded him as third baronet, was a Vice Admiral in the navy, and died on 21 February 1874, having taken the name of Græme-Hamond, and Graham Eden William, commander R.N., and three daughters. Lady Hamond died on 24 December 1872.