Background
He was the son of John Hawley of Dartmouth. His family reportedly came from the hamlet of Allaleigh and this may account for the origins of his name.
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John Hawley
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Career
He is reputed to be the inspiration for Chaucer"s "schipman". He was Mayor of Dartmouth on fourteen occasions between 1374 and 1401 and was elected Member of Parliament for Dartmouth 4 times, in 1390, 1393, 1394 and 1402. Hawley was both a merchant and licensed privateer though he was often accused of piracy.
He conducted a number of naval operations in the English Channel and briefly held the post of deputy to the Admiral of England under King Henry IV (1399-1413).
He organised the defence of Dartmouth in 1404 against an attack by a Breton fleet, which culminated in the Battle of Blackpool Sands. He died in December 1408 and was buried in Street Saviour"s Church, Dartmouth.
