James Barker (Royal Navy)
Encyclopedia
James Barker was a captain
in the royal navy
.
Barker was the son of Mr. James Barker, a shipowner at Rotherhithe
. He was born on 2 March 1772, and was entered on the books of the Beaver sloop, as early as 13 June, 1780. He afterwards, whilst still a child, was on board the Prudent in the West Indies, and was present in the engagement at St. Kitts 25 and 26 January 1782. In 1794 he was serving on board the Russell, of 74 guns, and in her shared in the glories of 1 June. He was then transferred to the Jupiter, carrying the broad pennant of Commodore
J. W. Payne; and in the following spring was in the royal yacht
, on the occasion of bringing over the Princess Caroline of Brunswick, a service that gained for him promotion to the rank of lieutenant
, 13 April 1795. He was afterwards appointed to the Orion, with Captain Sir James Saumarez, and, continuing in her, had a part in the victories of L'Orient, Cape St. Vincent
, and the Nile
; the last engagement gave him commander
's rank on 8 Oct. 1798. Later he commanded the hired ship Moriston in the Bristol Channel
and on the coast of Cornwall
, and was made post-captain
on 12 Aug. 1812.
He had no further employment in the navy, but settled down in the neighbourhood of Bristol, where he died 4 May 1838.
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
in the royal navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Barker was the son of Mr. James Barker, a shipowner at Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
. He was born on 2 March 1772, and was entered on the books of the Beaver sloop, as early as 13 June, 1780. He afterwards, whilst still a child, was on board the Prudent in the West Indies, and was present in the engagement at St. Kitts 25 and 26 January 1782. In 1794 he was serving on board the Russell, of 74 guns, and in her shared in the glories of 1 June. He was then transferred to the Jupiter, carrying the broad pennant of Commodore
Commodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
J. W. Payne; and in the following spring was in the royal yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
, on the occasion of bringing over the Princess Caroline of Brunswick, a service that gained for him promotion to the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, 13 April 1795. He was afterwards appointed to the Orion, with Captain Sir James Saumarez, and, continuing in her, had a part in the victories of L'Orient, Cape St. Vincent
Cape St. Vincent
Cape St. Vincent , next to the Sagres Point, on the so-called Costa Vicentina , is a headland in the municipality of Sagres, in the Algarve, southern Portugal.- Description :This cape is the southwesternmost point in Portugal...
, and the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
; the last engagement gave him commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
's rank on 8 Oct. 1798. Later he commanded the hired ship Moriston in the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and on the coast of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and was made post-captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
on 12 Aug. 1812.
He had no further employment in the navy, but settled down in the neighbourhood of Bristol, where he died 4 May 1838.