Sir James Douglas, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir James Douglas, 1st Baronet (1703 – 2 November 1787) naval officer and Commodore of Newfoundland.
in 1744 In 1745 commanded the HMS Mermaid
at Louisbourg and in 1746 he commanded the HMS Vigilante at Louisbourg. In 1746 was appointed Commodore
of Newfoundland by Vice-Admiral Townsend
. He then served as a Member of Parliament for Orkney & Shetland
from 1754 to 1768.
In 1757 served as a member of the court martial which tried and convicted Admiral Byng
and in 1759 he was knighted for his participation in the capture of Québec
. He was commander of the squadron which captured Dominica
in 1761. In 1762 he served in the fleet under George Rodney
which captured Martinique
and then served in the fleet under George Pocock
which captured Havana
.
He was promoted Vice-Admiral in 1770 and Admiral in 1778. In 1786 he was made a Baronet
.
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Naval career
Douglas became a captain in 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 1744 In 1745 commanded the HMS Mermaid
HMS Ruby (1708)
HMS Ruby was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Sir Joseph Allin at Deptford Dockyard to the 1706 Establishment, and launched on 25 March 1708....
at Louisbourg and in 1746 he commanded the HMS Vigilante at Louisbourg. In 1746 was appointed 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:...
of Newfoundland by Vice-Admiral Townsend
Townsend
-United States of America:*Camp Townsend, National Guard training base in Peekskill, New York*Townsend, Delaware*Townsend, Georgia*Townsend, Massachusetts, a town**Townsend , Massachusetts, a census-designated place...
. He then served as a Member of Parliament for Orkney & Shetland
Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)
Orkney and Shetland is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
from 1754 to 1768.
In 1757 served as a member of the court martial which tried and convicted Admiral Byng
John Byng
Admiral John Byng was a Royal Navy officer. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen he participated at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. Over the next thirty years he built up a reputation as a solid naval officer and received promotion to Vice-Admiral in 1747...
and in 1759 he was knighted for his participation in the capture of Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He was commander of the squadron which captured Dominica
British expedition against Dominica
The British expedition against Dominica was a military action in June 1761, as part of the Seven Years' War.- Prelude :By the end of 1760, the conquest of Canada was completed and a great number of British troops were left idle in North America....
in 1761. In 1762 he served in the fleet under George Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
which captured Martinique
British expedition against Martinique
The British expedition against Martinique was a military action from January to February 1762, as part of the Seven Years' War.- Prelude :...
and then served in the fleet under George Pocock
George Pocock
Sir George Pocock, KB was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He rose to the rank of admiral.Pocock was from Chieveley in Berkshire, the son of Thomas Pocock, a chaplain in the navy. George Pocock entered the navy in 1718, serving aboard under the patronage of his maternal uncle, Captain...
which captured Havana
British expedition against Cuba
The Battle of Havana was a military action from March to August 1762, as part of the Seven Years' War. British forces besieged and captured the city of Havana, which at the time was an important Spanish naval base in the Caribbean, and dealt a serious blow to the Spanish navy...
.
He was promoted Vice-Admiral in 1770 and Admiral in 1778. In 1786 he was made a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
See also
- Great Britain in the Seven Years WarGreat Britain in the Seven Years WarThe Kingdom of Great Britain was one of the major participants in the Seven Years' War which lasted between 1756 and 1763. Britain emerged from the war as the world's leading colonial power having gained a number of new territories at the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and established itself as the...
- Governors of Newfoundland
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
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- Note: The position of governor of the colony had temporarily lapsed after the departure of Richard EdwardsRichard Edwards (governor 1746)Richard Edwards naval officer and Commodore Governor of Newfoundland, died England.Edwards was a captain in the Royal Navy and was appointed governor of Newfoundland in 1746...
and therefore Douglas was not a governor of the island. Also, no commodore or governor was sent in 1747, the next governor was Charles Watson in 1748.