A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brisbane, James William Douglas
BRISBANE. (Capt., 1846. f-p., 15; h-p., 13.)
James William Douglas Brisbane, born 11 March, 1806, is only surviving son of the late gallant Rear-Admiral Sir Chas. Brisbane, K.C.B., the hero of Curaçoa, by Sarah, daughter of Sir Jas. Patey, Kt., of Reading, co. Berks. He is nephew of Sir Jas. Brisbane, who officiated as Captain of Lord Exmouth’s flag-ship at the battle of Algiers, and died from the effects of disease contracted while employed in the chief command of the naval force attached to the expedition against the Burmese, 19 Dec. 1826 – of Capt. John Douglas Brisbane, drowned in 1782 – of Lieut.-Colonel Thos. Stewart Brisbane, killed at St. Domingo in 1795 – and of Capt.Wm. Henry Brisbane, R.N., who died in 1796.
This officer entered the Navy, in Nov. 1819, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Euryalus 42, Capt. Thos. Huskisson, on the West India station, and afterwards became attached in succession, as Midshipman and Mate, to the Pyramus 42, Capt. Fras. Newcombe – Victory 104, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Geo. Martin – Calliope 10, Capt. John Powney, with whom he returned to the West Indies – and Royal Sovereign yacht, Capt. Sir Wm. Hoste, in which he escorted the Queen of Wurtemberg from Antwerp to England, and H. B. H. the Lord High Admiral on a visit to the different naval arsenals. He was presented by the latter august personage with a hauling-down commission 11 Aug. 1827; after which he appears to have been employed, from 1 March, 1828, until paid off in 1830, in the Icarus 10, Capt. Hon. Thos. Best – also, as First Lieutenant, in the Mersey 26, Capt. Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay – and in the Barham 50, bearing the flag of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming – all on the Jamaica station. He was advanced to his present rank 10 Jan. 1837; and, on 14 Nov. 1843, was appointed to the Larne 18, on the coast of Africa. While in command of the latter sloop, Capt. Brisbane succeeded in effecting the capture of two Brazilian slave-vessels. On one occasion he proceeded up the river Gallinas in charge of a division of boats, and, although opposed by the fire of 400 of the natives, had the good fortune to destroy the towns of Minna, Tindor, and Leah; and, on another, he led a second detachment of boats up the same pestilential stream for the purpose of attacking the city of Ghindemar, which place, although hostilities were eventually rendered unnecessary, he contrived to reach after having been compelled to cut his way through trees and other obstacles that had been thrown into the river to impede his progress. Since the attainment of his present rank, 9 Nov. 1846, he has been on half-pay.
Capt. Brisbane married, 27 Aug. 1834, Elizabeth, fourth daughter of the late John Ryley, Esq., of Hertford House, near Coventry, and by that lady has issue one daughter.