EAST INDIA COMPANY CAPTAINS

Captain Philip Affleck (1726-99)

Affleck spent his early sea training in the service of the Honourable East India Company before transferring to the Royal Navy. He became a lieutenant rather late in 1755. Boscawen made him a commander during the taking of Louisbourg in 1758 and, after following the admiral to the Mediterranean, he was made a captain after the Battle of Lagos in the following year. In the War of American Independence, he commanded the 'Triumph', 74 guns, and fought at Rodney's two actions with de Guichen in 1780. After getting his flag in 1787, he went as commander-in-chief to the West Indies, 1790-93. On his return he became a Lord of the Admiralty until he retired in 1796.

Captain Sir William Abdy, Bt (circa 1735-1803)

Abdy entered the service of the Hon. East India Company as a midshipman in the 'True Briton' on her voyage of 1750-1752. From 1753-1755, he was fourth mate of the 'Stafford'. He then transferred to the Royal Navy and commanded the 'Beaver', 14 guns, both in home waters and in the West Indies, 1761-66. He was made a post captain in 1766 but did not serve again. In 1775, he succeeded his brother to the family baronetcy.

Captain Sir William Hutcheon Hall (1797?-1878) A half-length portrait seated very slightly to left in a captain's undress coat and epaulettes. His sword is the one presented to him by the crew of 'Nemesis' and rests in the crook of his left arm. His right hand is gripping the scabbard. He wears his C.B. flanked by medals for China and the Baltic. In the left background is what appears to be the bombardment of Bomarsund. The sitter had an unusual service career. Joining in 1811 he was a master by 1822 until 1836 when his interest in steam propulsion prompted him to study it in Glasgow and the USA. In 1839 he accepted the command of a new armed iron paddle steamer, built for the East India Company the 'Nemesis'. In 1841 he took her to China to fight the Opium War and did so well that by orders in council, he was created a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, the service of the 'Nemesis' to be regarded as if she was a Queen's ship. He was subsequently promoted to commander in 1843 and then to captain the next year. In this rank he served against the Russians in the Baltic in 1854-1855 in command first of the 'Hecla' and then the 'Blenheim' and was awarded the C.B. It was during this period that the portrait was painted.

Sir James Lancaster (1554/5-1618)

Lancaster was brought up in Portugal as a merchant and soldier, but returned to England in 1587. In 1588 he commanded the merchant ship 'Edward Bonaventure' in the fleet against the Armada. In 1591 he took the same ship on the first English trading voyage to the East Indies, which was disastrous in its loss of life and investment, but provided useful information about the Portuguese presence in the area. His second task was an expedition against the Spanish and Portuguese in South America, capturing and plundering Pernambuco. These expeditions led to the formation of the East India Company of which Lancaster became director in 1600. He commanded the four ships, 'Hector', 'Susan', 'Ascension' and 'Red Dragon', on the Company's first expedition in 1601. The 'Red Dragon' and 'Hector' returned in September 1602 and Lancaster was knighted by James I in 1603. In the upper left hand corner is a depiction of a ship, possibly intended to represent the 'Edward Bonaventure

Commander William Hay (circa 1770-after 1828)

Captain William Hay is first mentioned in Hardy's East India Register as third mate of the East Indiaman 'Rockingham', which sailed from Portsmouth to Calcutta on 27 June 1796. In 1805 he had his first command in the 'Retreat', a new ship owned by Robert Wigram, which sailed for Madeira and Bombay in April, returning in May 1806. Between this date and 1828 he made many more voyages to the East. For details of his career see 'A register of ships employed in the service of the Honourable the United East India Company, from the year 1760 to 1810' by Charles Hardy

The Money brothers: William (1769-1834), James (1772-1833) and Robert Taylor (1775-1803)

A group portrait of three sons of William Money (1738-1796), a Director of the East India Company and an Elder Brother of Trinity House, commissioned by Sir Robert Wigram Bt (1769-1830), Money's lifelong friend and business partner.. Image fromNational Maritime Museum