Who was Captain John Hamilton? The navy commander who never set foot in the city that took his name

Sunday, 2 September 2018

Vandalism of the statue of Captain Hamilton has sparked debate about the city's name.

Hamilton City Council has removed a 2013 statue of Captain John Hamilton, the namesake of the city. But who was he? (This story was first published in 2018, and has been updated).

Hamilton was named after a navy commander who never set foot in the city.

He died at the Battle of Gate Pā, commanding a colonial regiment in the fight against Māori, before the site was chosen as a militia settlement.

The grave of John Fane Charles Hamilton at a Tauranga Cemetery.

Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton died at the battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pā) in Tauranga (then known as Te Papa) on April 29, 1864.

The Tauranga Campaign was a six-month-long armed conflict was part of the New Zealand wars over land ownership and sovereignty.

The statue of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton was donated to the city by the Gallagher Group.It was removed in June 2020.

Captain Hamilton's sword was gifted to Waikato Museum.

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The gravestone of John Fane Charles Hamilton at Tauranga's Mission Cemetery.

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His belt was also gifted to Waikato Museum.

A medal belonging to Captain John Hamilton is kept at Waikato Museum, along with other medals, a sword and belt that belonged to him.

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At the Gate Pā battle, a number of British soldiers were killed, but they took revenge in the Battle of Te Ranga, seven weeks later, in which more than 80 Māori were killed or fatally wounded.

As recounted by archaeologist Nigel Prickett in Landscapes of Conflict, on the eve of the Battle of Gate Pā, nine British officers were hosted for supper at the Elms mission house by Archdeacon and Mrs Brown.

Within 24 hours, all but one was dead or mortally wounded. The casualties included Captain Hamilton, commander of HMS Esk, and his cousin, Captain Robert Hamilton, of the 43rd Light Infantry.

The Daily Southern Cross of May 31, 1864, described the battle in detail.

When the defences were breached, 'the second division of blue jackets and the gallant 43rd, led by Captain Hamilton of the Esk, advanced with a ringing cheer'.

'Captain Hamilton sprang upon the parapet, and shouting 'follow me, men!' dashed into the fight. That moment was his last. He fell dead, pierced through the brain by a bullet.'

Hamilton was buried in Tauranga, in the Mission Cemetery. Other British and Māori victims of this battle and the following one at Te Ranga are also buried there.

Hamilton first enlisted in the British Navy in 1835 when he was 14.

He served in the Americas, the Crimea and in the 2nd Anglo-Chinese War. Waikato Museum has his sword, medals and belt, donated by family members.

He married in 1855, and he and wife Laura had three children and lived on the Isle of Wight. In May 1863, he was appointed captain of the Esk and sent to New Zealand.

Hamilton city, founded in 1864 at the end of the Waikato War, was named after him, as is Hamilton Street in Tauranga.

In 2013 the life-size bronze statue of John was gifted to Hamilton by the Gallagher Group. It was produced by Margriet Windhausen and stands in Civic Square.