William Lukin
| William Lukin Windham | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Vice Admiral William Lukin by George Clint
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| Birth name | William Lukin |
| Born |
20 September 1768 Felbrigg, Norfolk |
| Died | 12 January 1833 (aged 64) Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg, Norfolk |
| Allegiance |
Great Britain United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | c.1781–1814 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations |
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Vice-Admiral William Lukin, later William Lukin Windham (20 September 1768 – 12 January 1833) was a Royal Navy officer who rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and served with great distinction through the Napoleonic Wars. Eventually he inherited the house and estates of William Windham.
William Lukin was born in the village of Felbrigg,Norfolk on 20 September 1768. He was the son of the Rev. George Lukin and Susan Katherine Doughty. His father was the rector of Felbrigg and Aylmerton. The Rev. George Lukin was the half brother of William Windham. who was the local squire of Felbrigg Hall and one time member of parliament for Norwich and Secretary at War in the Cabinet. Windham had a special affection for all the children of the Rev. Lukin and in particular William Lukin who would eventually become his heir. The young William Lukin went to sea probably around 1781 at the age of 13. He appears to have been a keen seaman and a fast learner and survived the harsh life in the navy, and by 1786 he had become a midshipman.
In 1793 Lukin had become a Lieutenant, and by 1795 he had been given command of HMS Hornet, a 16-gun sloop. Soon after this appointment he was given the rank of Captain and with this promotion he was given HMS Thames, a vessel of 32 guns, which had been re-captured on 8 June 1796 from the French who had initially captured the ship in 1793. As Britain faced war with France, Lukin’s career began to rise steadily in the Royal Navy especially with a powerful patron like William Windham. Windham did all he could to assist Lukin’s rapid advancement within the Navy through his great friendship with Lord George Spencer, who was the First Lord of the Admiralty.
In April 1792 Captain William Lukin found himself embroiled in the Spithead mutiny. Sixteen ships of the line of the Channel fleet refused to sail and mounted a collective mutiny at Spithead. Their demands were concerned with improved pay and conditions, and better treatment in general. Some officers considered to ill-treat their crews were sent ashore and their permanent removal demanded. Lukin was recorded as performing well in quelling the discontent and as a result helped the mutiny at Spithead to be resolved in a peaceful and organised manner and within a few weeks the seamans' demands had been met and a Royal Pardon granted. It was noted Captain Lukin’s vessel, HMS Thames was the first to be ready to resume its duties within the Royal Navy.
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