Edward Hopson

Vice-Admiral of the White Edward Hopson (1671 – 8 May 1728) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station.

Origins and early career

Hopson was born in 1671, the son of Anthony Hopson (1640–1679), who was a gunner at Sandham Fort on the Isle of Wight and the older brother of Vice-admiral Sir Thomas Hopsonn. Edward followed his uncle into the Royal Navy on 10 January 1681 as a captain's servant on HMS Swann, and was serving under him as first lieutenant of the in 1693.

On 24 July 1696 he was given his first independent command, as post captain of the fifth-rate . He spent the next two years in that vessel cruising the Irish Sea. In 1702 he transferred to the command of the third-rate , in which he took part in the Battle of Vigo Bay that October. The following year, Mary served as the flagship of Rear-admiral Basil Beaumont during his blockade of Dunkirk the following year. During his passage across the Atlantic he was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the White.