William Johnstone Hope

Sir

William Johnstone Hope
Hope in 1824, by James Ramsay
Born16 August 1766 (1766-08-16)
Finchley, Middlesex
Died2 May 1831 (1831-05-03) (aged 64)
Bath, Somerset
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1777 to 1830
RankRoyal Navy Vice-Admiral
Battles / wars
AwardsCommander of the Order of St John
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Other workLord of the Admiralty
MP for Dumfries Burghs, 1800–1802
MP for Dumfriesshire, 1804–1830

Vice Admiral Sir William Johnstone Hope, GCB (16 August 1766 – 2 May 1831) was a prominent and controversial British Royal Navy officer and politician in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Britain, whose career experienced fleet actions, disputes with royalty, party politics and entry to both Russian and British orders of chivalry. A popular officer, Hope served with Nelson, Duncan and Lord Keith through several campaigns, making connections which enabled him to secure a lengthy political career after his retirement from the Royal Navy in 1804 due to ill-health. After 26 years in Parliament, Hope was largely inactive and instead served as a Lord of the Admiralty and commissioner of Greenwich Naval Hospital. Hope died in 1832 after 55 years of naval and political service and was buried in the family plot in Scotland.