Hugh Pigot (Royal Navy officer, born 1769)
Hugh Pigot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 September 1769 Patshull, Staffordshire |
| Died | 21 September 1797 (aged 28) Aboard HMS Hermione, off Puerto Rico |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1782–1797 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | HMS Swan HMS Success HMS Hermione |
| Relations | Hugh Pigot (father) |
Captain Hugh Pigot (5 September 1769 – 21 September 1797) was a Royal Navy officer. Through his connections and their patronage, he was able to rise to the rank of captain, despite poor leadership skills and a reputation for brutality. Historian William James stated that "he has been described to us by those who knew him well, as one of the most cruel and oppressive captains belonging to the British navy."
While Pigot was captain of the frigate HMS Hermione, he eventually provoked his men to mutiny. This mutiny became the bloodiest in the history of the Royal Navy and left Pigot and nine other officers dead. The Navy hunted down and executed a number of the mutineers and recaptured his ship from the Spanish, to whom the mutineers had turned it over.