James Robert Drummond
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir James Robert Drummond GCB
(15 September 1812 – 7 October 1895) was a British
naval
officer who commanded several ships in the Black Sea Fleet
during the Crimean War
and who commanded the Mediterranean Fleet
from 1874 to 1877 before going on to be Fourth Naval Lord
.
and Lady Amelia Sophia Drummond (née Murray), Drummond joined the Royal Navy
on 2 February 1826. He was promoted to lieutenant
on 27 December 1832, and to commander on 9 June 1838.
As a Commander he took command of the 18-gun sailing sloop Scout in the Mediterranean
in 1841. Promoted to captain in 1846, in 1852 he took charge of the 1st-Class wooden paddle-frigate Retribution, which had 10-guns and also served in the Mediterranean. Under his command the Retribution, which was listed as having 28 guns, participated in the first bombardment of Sevastapol on 17 October 1854 during the Crimean War
. During the bombardment, Retribution towed or was coupled broadside to the 120-gun sailing line-of-battle ship Trafalgar
.
Later that year, Drummond was appointed captain of the 31-gun wooden screw-corvette
Tribune and the following year to the 2nd rate, 2-decker 90-gun sail line-of-battle ship Albion
, both of which ships formed part of the Black Sea Fleet. In March 1856 he became Captain of the Victory, flagship of Vice-Admiral George Francis Seymour
, Portsmouth and in December of that year he was transferred to the 5th-rate 44-gun sailing frigate Maeander
, for coast guard service.
He was appointed Fourth Naval Lord
from March 1858. In December 1858 he was appointed as Commodore in Fisgard
, as Commander-in-Chief, Woolwich. Fishguard was an old 5th-rate 46-gun sailing frigate, which had been hulked in 1847. Captain Drummond was again Fourth Naval Lord from June 1861 to July 1866, and was promoted to Rear Admiral
in January 1864.
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Bath on 24 May 1873, and was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 2 June 1877. He commanded the Mediterranean Fleet
from 13 January 1874 to 15 January 1877. His flagship was initially the Lord Warden
and later Hercules
. He was promoted to Admiral on 22 January 1877, and retired on 16 September 1877, the day after his 65th birthday. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Bath
on 23 April 1880. In retirement he served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
.
Sir George Elliot
and Eliza Cecilia Ness, on 5 February 1856. They had one child, Laurence George Drummond, who was born on 13 March 1861. Catherine died on 20 April 1914.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(15 September 1812 – 7 October 1895) was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
naval
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 commanded several ships in the Black Sea Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
and who commanded the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
from 1874 to 1877 before going on to be Fourth Naval Lord
Fourth Sea Lord
The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...
.
Naval career
Born the second of the eight children of James Drummond, 8th Viscount StrathallanViscount Strathallan
The title of Lord Maderty was created in 1609 for James Drummond, a younger son of the 2nd Lord Drummond of Cargill. The titles of Viscount Strathallan and Lord Drummond of Cromlix were created in 1686 for William Drummond, a younger son of the 2nd Lord Madderty...
and Lady Amelia Sophia Drummond (née Murray), Drummond joined 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...
on 2 February 1826. He was 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...
on 27 December 1832, and to commander on 9 June 1838.
As a Commander he took command of the 18-gun sailing sloop Scout in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
in 1841. Promoted to captain in 1846, in 1852 he took charge of the 1st-Class wooden paddle-frigate Retribution, which had 10-guns and also served in the Mediterranean. Under his command the Retribution, which was listed as having 28 guns, participated in the first bombardment of Sevastapol on 17 October 1854 during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. During the bombardment, Retribution towed or was coupled broadside to the 120-gun sailing line-of-battle ship Trafalgar
HMS Trafalgar (1841)
HMS Trafalgar was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 21 June 1841 at Woolwich Dockyard. She was the last to be completed of the successful Caledonia class....
.
Later that year, Drummond was appointed captain of the 31-gun wooden screw-corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
Tribune and the following year to the 2nd rate, 2-decker 90-gun sail line-of-battle ship Albion
HMS Albion (1842)
HMS Albion was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Ordered in 1839, she was built at Plymouth and launched on 6 September 1842, and entered service in 1843. Albion was designed by Sir William Symonds, was the only ship of her class to ever serve as a sailing ship, and the last...
, both of which ships formed part of the Black Sea Fleet. In March 1856 he became Captain of the Victory, flagship of Vice-Admiral George Francis Seymour
George Francis Seymour
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Francis Seymour, GCB, GCH, PC was a Royal Navy officer.-Naval career:...
, Portsmouth and in December of that year he was transferred to the 5th-rate 44-gun sailing frigate Maeander
HMS Maeander (1840)
HMS Meander was launched at Chatham on 5 May 1840. She was a Seringapatam-class frigate, armed originally with 16 32-pounder carronades and 28 18-pounder carronades. The length of her keel was 133 feet and her beam 42 feet; her burthen was 1221 tons. As a frigate her complement was 222 seamen, 39...
, for coast guard service.
He was appointed Fourth Naval Lord
Fourth Sea Lord
The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...
from March 1858. In December 1858 he was appointed as Commodore in Fisgard
HMS Fisgard (1819)
HMS Fisgard was a 46-gun fifth rate Leda-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She spent sixty years in service on a variety of duties.-Construction and commissioning:...
, as Commander-in-Chief, Woolwich. Fishguard was an old 5th-rate 46-gun sailing frigate, which had been hulked in 1847. Captain Drummond was again Fourth Naval Lord from June 1861 to July 1866, and was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in January 1864.
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Bath on 24 May 1873, and was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 2 June 1877. He commanded the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
from 13 January 1874 to 15 January 1877. His flagship was initially the Lord Warden
HMS Lord Warden (1865)
HMS Lord Warden was the second and final ship to be completed of the Lord Clyde class.She was heavier than her sister, by about 360 tons; partly because she carried heavier machinery and was fitted with a poop, and partly because the wood used for the construction of Lord Clyde was, as it...
and later Hercules
HMS Hercules (1868)
HMS Hercules was a central-battery ironclad of the Royal Navy in the Victorian era, and was the first warship to mount a main armament of calibre guns....
. He was promoted to Admiral on 22 January 1877, and retired on 16 September 1877, the day after his 65th birthday. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
on 23 April 1880. In retirement he served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
Black Rod
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
.
Family
Drummond married Catherine Francis Elliot, daughter of AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir George Elliot
George Elliot (1784–1863)
Admiral Sir George Elliot, KCB , was a Royal Navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and the First Opium War....
and Eliza Cecilia Ness, on 5 February 1856. They had one child, Laurence George Drummond, who was born on 13 March 1861. Catherine died on 20 April 1914.