Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos: Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy

1769-1839. Naval Officer ("Nelson's Hardy").

Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy
From an engaving by H. Robinson after a painting by R. Evans 1832-33
Original at the National Maritime Museum

The Hardys were friends of the first Duke and Duchess, especially Lady Hardy. The Duke, however, fought a duel with Hardy in 1816.

1769: Born 5 April. Sixth child and second son of Joseph Hardy, of Portisham, Dorset and Nanny, daughter of Thomas Masterman of Kingston Russel, Dorset.
Educated at Crewkerne school under Drs Patch and Aske
1781: 30 November, entered Navy on H.M. Brig Helena, commanded by Captain Francis Roberts of Burton Bradstock
1782: April returned to school at Milton Abbas
1790: After a period in the merchant service, he re-entered the Navy as Midshipman on Hebe under Sir Alexander Hood
1790: Promoted to master's mate
Served on Tisiphone sloop under Captain Anthony Hunt
1793: Midshipman of Amphitrite with Hunt in operations in Mediterranean
1793: 10 November, promoted Lieutenant on the Meleager frigate under Captain Tyler, attached to Nelson's squadron; and from June 1794 under Captain Cockburn on the same ship

Hardy was now a young naval officer of promise and of formed character. Professionally he was admirably grounded, and acknowledged on all hands to combine in his person the essentials of a successful officer. He was a born seaman, having an instinct for doing the right thing at the right moment, and he had mastered with infinite pains every detail which he had been able to study of the technical side of seamanship. He had trained in many types of craft...

His genius for seamanship gave him professional qualities which were not apparent in private life. On service his instinct made him quick as lightning to appreciate a position and to take exactly the right steps to meet it.

By nature he was calm, patient, slow and careful. Both in appearance and in speech his character was revealed. In figure he was broad and massive and appeared less tall than in fact he was; his features, as he grew older, had the strength and bluntness of the old Romans; he had a chin like a battering ram; spiritual fire and agility of mind he reserved for his profession.

He was of the highest moral character, broadminded and humane, slow to anger, not given to despondency nor to introspection; fearless and tenacious, a trifle obstinate and not easily moved from his purpose and convictions. He possessed the broad and genial humour of his class and kind, but was not remarkable either for imagination, sympathy or wit. His character lent a certain bluntness and frankness to his speech and he could criticize in others lapses from his own high ethical standard with any amount of moral courage.

For the rest, he possessed a fund of common sense, of which he made good use in every aspect of life. He was always ready to give, but seldom volunteered advice; when he gave it, it was blunt, uncompromising, to the point, yet often infinitely tactful. He already knew how to direct vain men without their realizing it and to compose the moods of the heady and the irritable; a strong, calm man, to whom the weak and quarrelsome always turn as to a judge above suspicion of partiality and outside the radius of their disputes. In business matters he was shrewd and hardheaded as a Yorkshireman, knew to the last penny his share of the prize-money and, as copious notebooks in his handwriting show, was one of those thrifty and careful souls who discover at once, and take measures to prevent, the loss of a cotton shirt in the wash. (Gore)

1796: August transferred to Minerve with Captain Cockburn
1796: Taken prisoner in an encounter with the Spanish frigates
1797: 10 February, rescued man overboard:

[Harvey] rejoined at Gibraltar and once more was in trouble under the very shadow of the Rock. The very day after Hardy rejoined, the Minerve was chased by the Spaniards in the Straits on her way to join the Admiral, Sir John Jervis. At this juncture a man fell overboard. Hardy instantly manned the jollyboat and put off to the rescue. The boat drifted astern and was carried by the current towards the leading Spaniard. Capture seemed inevitable, but Nelson, taking the situation in, called out: "By God, I’ll not lose Hardy; back the mizzen topsail."

The bold decision succeeded. The Spaniard shortened sail, and Hardy was picked up. Three days later the Minerve joined the fleet on the eve of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, and played in that victory so conspicuous a part as to earn high praise for her commander and crew. (Gore)

1797: 14 February victory at St. Vincent
1797: 16 June, captured and appointed to the command of the Mutine at Santa Cruz
1798: Commanded the Mutine in Nelson's victory of the Nile
1798: August, promoted to Captain of Vanguard
1798-99: Served in Vanguard and the Foudroyant under Nelson in Naples and Sicily
1801: April 1 victory at Copenhagen
1803: May, Flag-Captain of Victory during the blockade of Toulon
1805: 21 October Captain of the Fleet at Trafalgar:

He had been known as “Nelson’s Hardy” to the few since the Nile. Now the description was on every tongue and was to remain for all posterity the highest distinction of his honourable career. (Gore)

See also Hardy on the battle and a boatswain on Hardy's role in the battle.

1806: 4 February created Baronet
1806: Captain of the Triumph on the North American Station
1807: 17 November married Anne Louisa Emily Berkeley
1809-12: Commander-in-Chief at Lisbon; held the rank of Commodore of the Portuguese service on the Barfleur
1812-1813: Commanded a squadron on North American Station from Ramilles
1815: January awarded KCB
1815: Returned to England
1815-18: Captain of Royal Yacht Augusta (23 June 1815 to 11 August 1819)
1816: Fought duel with the first Duke of Buckingham in London
1819-24: 12 August 1819, Commander-in-Chief, South American Station
1821: 19 July Colonel, Royal Marines
1825: 27 May, Rear Admiral of the Blue
1826: Escorted the expeditionary force to Lisbon, his flag in the Wellesley
1827: Commanded an Experimental Squadron, flag on the Sibylle then the Pyramus
1827: 21 October, struck his flag at sea for the last time
1830: Rear Admiral of the White
1830: November, First Sea Lord of Admiralty
1831: 13 September GCB
1834: April, appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital
1837: 10 January, Vice-Admiral of the Blue
1839: 20 September death; buried at Greenwich Hospital.

This monument to Hardy stands on Blackdown Hill above Portesham, Dorset.
It was erected in 1844 at a cost of £450. Built of Portland stone to a design by Arthur Henry Acland.