John Fane Charles Hamilton

He served in the First Opium War, taking part in "the taking of Amoy, the storming of Chinghae, the attack on the Chinese entrenched camp on the heights of Segoan, the capture of Chapoo, and the engagement with the enemy’s batteries at Woosung" whilst serving under Captain Thomas Bourchier of HMS Blonde, and in the boat action under Captain George Goldsmith which destroyed "10 fire-vessels with which the Chinese had attempted to annihilate the British shipping and transports at their anchorage off Chinghae".

Their children included: From 22 May 1863,[3] Hamilton took command of HMS Esk (from commissioning in Portsmouth), and was ordered to the New Zealand Wars.

[1] The Daily Southern Cross reported on 3 May 1864: Captain Hamilton wore several mementoes of his gallantry, and the last and fatal act which distinguishes him as a gallant officer cannot be better described than in the words of our special correspondent – "The General, who was in the advanced trench of his position, ordered up the supports almost immediately after the storming party rushed the breach; and the second division of blue-jackets and the gallant 43rd, led by Captain Hamilton, of the 'Esk,' advanced with a ringing cheer to the support of the forlorn hope.

They arrived at a critical moment; the storming party exposed to a murderous fire on all sides, and from hidden assailants beneath, and without an officer left to lead them, were wavering; part were outside the pa. Captain Hamilton sprung upon the parapet, and shouting 'follow me, men!'

[4] In 2013 a life-size bronze statue of John was given to Hamilton by the Gallagher Group "to celebrate 75 years in business".

[7] Local Māori elder Taitimu Maipi, who had vandalised the statue in 2018, has called for the city to be renamed Kirikiriroa.