Born in Blackheath, London, England, the son of Robert Hamond and Susannah Snape, he joined the Royal Navy in 1753 and served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution. In 1765, he was made a Commander and a Captain in 1770. In 1783, Hamond was awarded a baronetcy. He became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1785 and Comptroller of the Navy from 1794. From 1796 to 1806, he was a Member of Parliament for Ipswich. He also was a member of the Court for the Court-Martial of the crew members captured on Tahiti who were involved in the Mutiny on the Bounty.