Walter Hawkins

Walter Hawkins (1787 – 27 January 1862) was a British ship and insurance broker, antiquarian and numismatist, based in the City of London. Background Walter Hawkins (15 March 1787 – 27 January 1862) was one of six children of John Hawkins, a merchant. He was baptised on 10 April 1787 at New Broad Street Independent church. He was educated in Hackney and was a ship and insurance broker in London until he retired in about 1848. Hawkins retired to 5 Leonard Place, Kensington, and died there, unmarried, on 27 January 1862. His will directed that he be buried in the vault he had purchased at Kensal Green Cemetery (No. 1545). He was interred alongside his brother John (6 January 1779 – 22 February 1845), the only other occupant of the family vault. A brief biographical entry in 1901 begins "b. London, 1787; ed. at Hackney; Russian merchant and ship and insurance broker Finsbury circus, retired 1848;" No evidence has been found of Russian ancestry or business connections for Hawkins. Ship broking Hawkins advertised in newspapers from about 1818, usually in the Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser, to invite cargo and often passengers for ships sailing from London. They were typically coppered Brigs (120–220 tons) and usually destined for South America, including the Funchal which sailed for Valparaiso and Lima in 1827, under the command of James Weddell.