, an enterprising English navigator, was born in 1745; he was the
, an enterprising English navigator,
was born in 1745; he was the son of Mr. Hearne, secretary
to the water-works, London-bridge, a very sensible man,
and of a respectable family in Somersetshire; he died of a
fever in his fortieth year, and left Mrs. Hearne with this
son, then but three years of age, and a daughter two years
older. Mrs. H. finding her income too small to admit her
living in town as she had been accustomed, retired to Bimmister, in Dorsetshire (her native place), where she lived
as a gentlewoman, and was much respected. It was her
wish to give her children as good an education as the place
afforded, and accordingly she sent her son to school at a very
early period: but his dislike to reading and writing was so
great, that he made very little progress in either. His
masters, indeed, spared neither threats nor persuasion to
induce him to learn, but their arguments were thrown
away on one who seemed predetermined never to become
a learned man; he had, however, a very quick apprehension, and in his childish sports shewed unusual activity and
ingenuity; he was particularly fond of drawing; and
though he never had the least instruction in the art, copied
with great delicacy and correctness even from nature.
Mrs. Hearne’s friends, finding her son had no taste for
study, advised tier fixing on some business, and proposed
such as they judged most suitable for him; but he declared
himself utterly averse to trade, and begged he might be
sent to sea. His mother very reluctantly complied with
his request, took him to Portsmouth, and remained with
him till he sailed. His captain (now lord Hood) promised
to take care of him, and gave him every indulgence his
youth required. He was then but eleven years of age.
They had a warm engagement soon after he entered, and
took several prizes: the captain told him he should have
his share; but he begged, in a very affectionate manner,
it might be given to his mother, and she would know best
what to do with it. He was a midshipman several years
under the same commander; but on the conclusion of the
war, having no hopes of preferment, he left the navy, and
entered into the service of the Hudson’s Bay company, as
mate of one of their sloops. He was, however, soon distinguished from his associates by his ingenuity, industry,
and a wish to undertake some hazardous enterprize by
which mankind might be benefited. This was represented
to the company, and they immediately applied to him as
a proper person to be sent on an expedition they had long
had in view, viz. to find out the north-west passage: he
gladly accepted the proposal, and how far he succeeded is
shewn to the public in his Journal. On his return he was
advanced to a more lucrative post, and in a few years was
made commander in chief, in which situation he remained
till 1782, when the French unexpectedly landed at Prince
of Wales’ s Fort, took possession of it, and after having
given the governor leave to secure his own property, seized
the stock of furs, &c. &c. and blew up the fort. At the
company’s request Mr. H. went out the year following,
saw it rebuilt, and the new governor settled in his habitation (which they took care to fortify a little better than formerly), and returned to England in 1787. He had
saved a few thousands, the fruits of many years’ industry,
and might, had he been blessed with prudence, have enjoyed
many years of ease and plenty; but he had lived so long
where money was of no use, that he seemed insensible of
its value here, and lent it with little or no security to those
he was scarcely acquainted with by name; sincere and
undesigning himself, he was by no means a match for the
duplicity of others. His disposition, as may be judged by
his writing, was naturally humane; what he wanted in
learning and polite accomplishments, he made up in native simplicity; and was so strictly scrupulous with regard
to the property of others, that he was heard to say, a few
davs before his death, “he could lay his hand on his heart
and say, he had never wronged any man of sixpence.
”