Before joining the Texas Navy in 1837, Addison C. Hinton served in the United States Navy for seven years, lived in South America, worked as a clerk, and read for the law in Houston. By 1839, Hinton was commissioned as a commander in the Texas Navy and became captain of the Zavala, the first steam man-of-war in the Gulf of Mexico. He also commanded the San Bernard from September to November 1839. During that summer, Hinton purportedly saved the French ship Phaeton from wrecking. However, the French credited and rewarded Edwin W. Moore for the action.
In October 1839, Hinton arrived in New Orleans to refit and repair the Zavala as well as to recruit for the Texas Navy. However, the trip ended in disaster due to high repair costs, mass desertions, and poor recruitment. The navy relieved Hinton of his command in February 1840. He made several attempts to be reinstated in the Texas Navy, and in 1841 the Texas Congress determined that the navy could not dismiss an officer without a court martial. The court martial cleared Hinton of all charges, but did not reinstate him. Following this controversy, Hinton practiced law and in 1841 was elected Justice of the Peace in Galveston.
Source: Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. “Hinton, Addison C.,” http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/fhi33.html (accessed July 20, 2010).
From the guide to the Hinton, Addison C. Papers 1935., 1835-1853, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)
