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This is a grave that sadly can no longer be seen in the cemetery, although we know its location. The article was written for us by Captain Hyde's great great grandson, Stephen Sommerville.
Captain Hyde was buried in Section 4, Row D, Number 20, near the chapel, as highlighted in the map above.
A well-known English ship captain; the first captain to travel around the world in a steam ship.
A well-known English ship captain; the first captain to travel around the world in a steam ship.
1818–1886
1818–1886
Captain George Hyde was born in June of 1818. He died the 24th of June 1886. He married Catherine Polhill on 19 December 1845 and they had three children: Catherine Elizabeth Hyde (1847–1929), Georgine Florence Stephens Hyde (1855–1928), George Audley Edward Hyde (1957–1935). [The latter is the author's great grandfather]
Captain Hyde was a well-known ship captain in England. He captained sailing ships in the 1850s from England to Australia on the passenger/mail route. Depending on the season and winds, we would take either the route via Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. He became one of the first captains to sail the steam powered ships. These ships were primarily ships with sails but had a coal fired engine that could move the ship at 4 or 5 knots to help the vessels maneuver in calm winds. Some of the ships he captained were the Queen of the South, the Argo, and the Oneida. On the inaugural voyage of the Steam Ship Argo, he became the first captain to travel around the world in a steam ship. His trip took 5½ months, of which 40 days were in port.
The G.S.S.S. Company's Steam Ship Argo, entering The Needles from Australia having performed the first steam voyage around the World in 121 days, 26 October 1853.
By John Connell Ogle, Lith; after draughtsman W. Jeffreson, Printer M. & N. Hanhart Royal Museums Greenwich, Public Domain
His wife traveled with him at least once on the voyages. In 1857, Captain Hyde’s ship, the Oneida, was reported missing at Sea in April. His wife was on board with him, having left their two daughters at home. The ship was reported as found in May having returned to port with a broken sole-plate and crankshaft. In June of 1857, Captain Hyde witnessed the birth of his son on board while the ship was off of Cape Horn.
Captain Hyde continued to captain vessels well into the late 1870s and possibly 1880. He made friends with many of the well known passengers on his ships. He received a glowing letter from George Edward Thicknesse-Touchet, 21st Baron Audley. In fact, it appears that Baron Audley and his wife were on board of the Oneida during the trip from Australia back to England in 1857. We can guess where Captain Hyde’s son, George Audley Edward Hyde, may have gotten his name from.
In the 1870's, Captain Hyde took ships primarily to Mediterranean ports, and ports in India. Most of the time his routes to India were through the Suez Canal. Some of the ships he was captain of during the 1870's were the Delta, Candia, Malwa, Malta, and Pera. In 1875, Sir Salar Jung boarded Captain Hyde’s ship, the Pera, which was en route to Bombay. Sir Salar Jung I was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State in India. It appears Sir Salar Jung traveled back and forth to England and the Mediterranean several times and very easily could have traveled with Captain Hyde several times. Captain Hyde’s will mentions several items given to him by Sir Salar Jung.
Captain Hyde died at the Lord’s Cricket Grounds watching an Australian match. While attended to by physicians present at the match, he died quickly. His cause of death was listed as Syncope owing to heart disease.
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Text by Stephen Sommerville • December 2025
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