Thomas Atkinson (Royal Navy officer)

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Thomas Atkinson (1767–1836) was a Royal Navy warrant officer who served as a master with Admiral Lord Nelson and became one of Nelson’s trusted followers. Nelson called him "one of the best Masters I have seen in the Royal Navy."

Born in Yorkshire in 1767, Atkinson joined the Navy as a volunteer in 1793. He was already an experienced mariner and was quickly rated an able seaman. He was promoted to master in 1795 and joined HMS Emerald, a 36-gun frigate.

In spring 1797 he moved to HMS Theseus, which soon became Nelson’s flagship. He served during the unsuccessful 1797 expedition to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and then fought at Aboukir Bay in 1798 and at Acre in 1799, where he was wounded when an explosion damaged the ship and killed Captain Ralph Miller. He was praised in despatches by Sir Sidney Smith for his bravery and for helping save the ship after Captain Miller’s death.

In 1801 Atkinson joined Nelson’s new flagship HMS San Josef and began a long period of service with the admiral. During the first Baltic campaign, as Nelson moved his flag to HMS St George, Atkinson helped mark treacherous shoals around Copenhagen. This earned him his first testimonial from Nelson, who also became godfather to one of Atkinson’s sons.

When war broke out again in 1803, Nelson asked him to serve as master on HMS Victory, and they worked together until Nelson’s death at Trafalgar in 1805. At Nelson’s funeral in 1806 he was in the third barge—the only non-commissioned officer to receive that honour—and he also rode in the funeral car. A diagram of the funeral was published in the London Gazette.

After Trafalgar, Atkinson served ashore in naval dockyards and finished his career at Portsmouth as first master attendant. He died in 1836 and was buried in St Andrew’s churchyard in Farlington, Portsmouth, alongside his family. His obituary noted that his promotions and rewards came from his own persevering efforts.