Frank Hopkins

Frank Hopkins (born uncertain – died 1951) claimed he was an American professional horseman who at one time performed with the Ringling Brothers Circus. He was supposedly a legendary distance rider, claimed to have won 400 races, and was recognized by his contemporaries as supporting the preservation of the mustang. None of his claims can be proven and his birth is recorded in Pennsylvania as 1893.

Though the Disney film Hidalgo was based on Hopkins' purported story, his alleged exploits are most likely fictional. He has been described as a "fabulator and a confidence man whose tales of heroic deeds were little more than tall stories." Few items in his accounts have been verified by outside, reliable, third-party sources.

Early life and education

Hopkins said he was born to a Lakota mother and European-American father, that he grew up in both cultures, and that he learned to ride and care for horses at an early age. There is a marriage certificate that Frank Hopkins signed in Los Angeles in 1933 where he put his age at 43. The Fort Laramie National Historic site has no record of his birth or family.

Frank Hopkins (cricketer)

Frank Jesse Hopkins (30 June 1875 – 15 January 1930) was an English cricketer. Hopkins was a left-handed batsman who bowled left-arm medium pace.

Hopkins made his first-class debut for Warwickshire in the 1898 County Championship against Lancashire. Hopkins played nine matches for Warwickshire in the 1898 season. During the season, Hopkins who was a bowler took 24 wickets at a bowling average of 29.91, with best figures of 5–10 against Kent.

Hopkins played just two more matches for Warwickshire after the 1898 season, with a single match against Essex in 1900 and Hopkins final match for the county in 1903 against Surrey.

In 1904 Hopkins moved to Hampshire and after qualifying for the county, Hopkins represented it in the 1906 County Championship, Hopkins made his debut for Hampshire against Surrey. Hopkins played one further match in 1906 for Hampshire, which came against Yorkshire.

Hopkins next and final first-class match came in 1911, when Hampshire played Lancashire.

Frank Hopkins (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral Sir Frank Henry Edward Hopkins KCB, DSO, DSC, (23 June 1910 – 14 April 1990), was a naval officer with the Royal Navy.

Naval career

Educated at the Nautical College at Pangbourne in Berkshire, Hopkins joined the Royal Navy in 1927.

He served in World War II, initially on the staff of the naval observer school at Ford in Sussex. In 1940 he transferred to 826 Naval Air Squadron and then to RAF Coastal Command. Then in 1941 he took command of 830 Naval Air Squadron sinking large quantities of German shipping in the Mediterranean. He went on to join the British Air Commission in Washington D. C. before becoming an observer with the US Pacific Fleet.

He also served in the Korean War as Air Commander in the aircraft-carrier HMS Theseus. He was appointed Deputy Director, Naval Air Organization and Training in 1951 and then went on to be Commander of HMS Myngs before being made Director, Naval Air Warfare. He went on to be Captain of HMS Ark Royal, before becoming Commandant of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1958. In 1960 he became Flag Officer, Flying Training and in 1962 he was made Flag Officer, Aircraft-carriers.