James Eaton

James Eaton (1783–1856/1857) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served aboard at the Battle of Trafalgar; as signal midshipman, he was the first person to pass on Nelson's famous signal to the fleet; "England expects that every man will do his duty".

Career Born in London in 1783, Eaton entered the navy in 1799 during the French Revolutionary Wars. He was serving aboard the 74-gun during the Battle of Algeciras Bay on 6 July 1801. Hannibal was captured during the battle. Eaton was repatriated at some stage and by 1803 was a midshipman aboard when she cut out several vessels in Quiberon Bay. and by 1839 he was living at Hill House where he died in either 1856 or 1857. He is buried at All Saints Church in Charlemont, West Bromwich. In 2005 as part of the Trafalgar bicentenary celebrations, his memorial in All Saints Churchyard was rededicated.