Sir Henry Heathcote | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 January 1777 |
| Died | 16 August 1851 (aged 74) Ingouville, France |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1790–1851 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Alliance HMS Romulus HMS Galatea HMS Desiree HMS Lion HMS Scipion |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight Bachelor |
| Relations | Sir William Heathcote, 3rd Baronet (father) Gilbert Heathcote (brother) |
Sir Henry Heathcote (20 January 1777 – 16 August 1851) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
Heathcote was born into a gentry family in 1777, the son of a baronet. He entered the navy several years before the start of the French Revolutionary Wars, and after seeing action in the Mediterranean, was advanced to lieutenant in 1795. After several acting commands he became a post-captain but saw no further service until the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars. He took a frigate out to the West Indies, and achieved some successes against privateers. An attempt to cut out a moored privateer in 1804 ended in failure and heavy casualties after the French defenders were forewarned.
Heathcote then went out to the East Indies commanding a ship of the line. After service transporting the ambassadors to Persia, he was based on the Indian coast. While there he took a bold decision to open despatches and then quit his post to deliver them to the station commanders, who were at the time involved in the Java Expedition. He was court-martialed for this, but though several charges were proved, he was judged to have acted in the service's best interests, and was acquitted. He went out to the Mediterranean late in the Napoleonic Wars, and commanded the inshore squadron during the blockade of Toulon. He led one of the last attacks on the French Mediterranean Fleet at the action of 5 November 1813, and retired ashore after the end of the wars. He developed a new technique for hoisting staysails, received further promotions, and a knighthood, while in retirement, before his death in 1851 at the rank of admiral.