Hamelin Trelawny (16 October 1782 – 3 May 1846) was a British politician that served as governor of Saint Helena. Born to nobility, he would enlist in the British military in 1798, rising to the rank of colonel by 1841. He was appointed Governor of Saint Helena on 24 August 1841, serving in the position until his death.

Early life

Hamelin was born to

Sir Harry Trelawny, 7th Baronet Sir Harry Trelawny, 7th Baronet (1756–1834) was an English Protestant preacher and convert to Roman Catholicism, nephew of General Harry Trelawny. Sir Harry (Henry) Trelawny of Trelawne was a Cornish baronet of historic title. As a young man h ...

and Anne Browne (died 18 November 1822). He had 5 siblings: #John Trelawney (28 January 1780 – 31 October 1821) #

Sir William Salusbury-Trelawny, 8th Baronet Sir William Lewis Salusbury-Trelawny, 8th Baronet (4 July 1781 – 15 November 1856), was a British politician. Born William Trelawny, he assumed in 1802 the additional surname of Salusbury. He served as High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1811Cornwal ...

(4 July 1781 – 15 November 1856) #Colonel Jonathan Trelawny (30 August 1786 – 13 September 1855) #Anne Letitia (22 January 1779 – 6 July 1860) #Mary Harding (died 1857)

Military service

Hamelin entered into the service of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1798, serving in

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...

the following year. He later served in the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...

between 1813 and 1814. He served as captain of the regiment's A Battery, 14th Brigade between 1826 and 1831. Following this, he was promoted to the position of lieutenant-colonel on 27 June 1831; Second Captain Thomas Grantham was promoted to captain as a result. On 27 November 1841, Hamelin was promoted to the position of colonel.

Saint Helena

Hamelin was appointed Governor of Saint Helena on 24 August 1841. He assumed the role on 6 January 1842, succeeding Major General

George Middlemore Lieutenant-General George Middlemore (died 18 November 1850, Tunbridge Wells) was a British Army officer and the first Governor of Saint Helena. Originally commissioned in the 86th Regiment of Foot, he rose to command the 48th Regiment of Fo ...

. He promptly raised 5 companies in England under the St. Helena Regiment in order to replace the line regiments at Saint Helena. Following his death, he was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel G.C Fraser as acting Governor on 4 May 1846, with Sir Patrick Ross assuming the role of Governor on 23 November 1846.

Personal life

Hamelin married Martha Rogers (died 6 January 1864) in 1806. They had six children: #Mary Trelawny (m. 5 September 1831, died 10 June 1849) #Mary Matilda #Agnes Matilda (m. 12 June 1866) #Emily Letitia (m. 1 June 1847, died 16 June 1871) #Jane la Vallin Trelawny (m. 18 December 1842) #Edward Harry Trelawny He died on 3 May 1846 in

Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...

. A few days prior to his death, he was paralyzed in his left side.

References

{{s-end 1782 births 1846 deaths Governors of Saint Helena People from Pelynt Trelawny Parish Royal Artillery soldiers British Army personnel of the Peninsular War