Born in London in 1783, Eaton entered the navy in 1799 during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Eaton was repatriated at some stage and by 1803 was a midshipman aboard HMS Atalante when she cut out several vessels in Quiberon Bay.
[1] He was appointed signal midshipman aboard HMS Temeraire by 1805, and served as such at Trafalgar, being promoted to lieutenant the following year.
He served at the capture of Java in 1811, and in 1813 distinguished himself while aboard HMS Beaver when he helped in the rescue of the crew of a Swedish vessel.
In 2005 as part of the Trafalgar bicentenary celebrations, his memorial in All Saints Churchyard was rededicated.