James Gambier (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral
James Gambier (1723–1789) was a Royal Navy
officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, North American Station. The historian David Syrett
presented a study of Gambier, which presented him as corrupt and largely disliked by his fellow officers.
in about 1740 being promoted to Lieutenant
in 1743. Promoted to Captain
, he commanded HMS Flamborough and HMS Squirrel. Later he commanded HMS Burford
and took part in the capture of Louisbourg
and the capture of Guadeloupe
.
In 1770 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station; this appointment had been predictable because of his connections with the Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish
. He was subsequently removed from control of the North American Station, following the rise of Lord Sandwich
as First Lord of the Admiralty. In 1773 he was made Commissioner of Victualling Accounts on the Navy Board in an attempt to make amends to him for the his political removal from his command in North America. In September of that same year Gambier was appointed commissioner of Portsmouth. However, Gambier was not very successful or content with this position, as he was completely unprepared for managing a large civilian organization such as that at Portsmouth. After becoming rear-admiral of the red from seniority in 1778, he returned to North America and was briefly Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station again after resigning from the commissonership at Portsmouth. During his time in the post, Gambier was repeatedly accused of corruption and he was despised by many of his contemporaries.
In October 1783 he became Commander-in-Chief, West Indies. He was not well liked by his men and was once described as "this penurious old reptile". He retired in 1884.
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
James Gambier (1723–1789) was a 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...
officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, North American Station. The historian David Syrett
David Syrett
David Syrett was Distinguished Professor of History at Queens College, City University of New York in Flushing, New York and a widely respected researcher and documentary editor on eighteenth-century British naval history and the Battle of the Atlantic during World War Two.-Early life and...
presented a study of Gambier, which presented him as corrupt and largely disliked by his fellow officers.
Naval career
Gambier joined the Royal NavyRoyal 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...
in about 1740 being promoted to 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...
in 1743. Promoted to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
, he commanded HMS Flamborough and HMS Squirrel. Later he commanded HMS Burford
HMS Burford (1757)
HMS Burford was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Chatham Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1754, and launched in 1757.Burford was sold out of the navy in 1785....
and took part in the capture of Louisbourg
Fortress of Louisbourg
The Fortress of Louisbourg is a national historic site and the location of a one-quarter partial reconstruction of an 18th century French fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia...
and the capture of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
.
In 1770 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station; this appointment had been predictable because of his connections with the Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish
Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet
Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet was a British naval commander who fought in the Seven Years' War and conquered Manila on October 6, 1762....
. He was subsequently removed from control of the North American Station, following the rise of Lord Sandwich
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, PC, FRS was a British statesman who succeeded his grandfather, Edward Montagu, 3rd Earl of Sandwich, as the Earl of Sandwich in 1729, at the age of ten...
as First Lord of the Admiralty. In 1773 he was made Commissioner of Victualling Accounts on the Navy Board in an attempt to make amends to him for the his political removal from his command in North America. In September of that same year Gambier was appointed commissioner of Portsmouth. However, Gambier was not very successful or content with this position, as he was completely unprepared for managing a large civilian organization such as that at Portsmouth. After becoming rear-admiral of the red from seniority in 1778, he returned to North America and was briefly Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station again after resigning from the commissonership at Portsmouth. During his time in the post, Gambier was repeatedly accused of corruption and he was despised by many of his contemporaries.
In October 1783 he became Commander-in-Chief, West Indies. He was not well liked by his men and was once described as "this penurious old reptile". He retired in 1884.