A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Newton, James

1852666A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Newton, JamesWilliam Richard O'Byrne

NEWTON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 27.)

James Newton died 29 July, 1845.

This officer entered the Navy, 15 June, 1805, as Third-cl. Vol., on board the Puissant 74, Capt. John Irwin, lying at Spithead. Removing, as Fst.-cl. Vol., in July, 1807, to the Horatio of 46 guns and 270 men, Capt. Geo. Scott, he visited Quebec and Halifax, and then proceeded to the West Indies, where, in company with the Latona 38, and Supérieure and Driver sloops, he assisted at the capture, 10 Feb. 1809, of La Junon French frigate, of 46 guns and 323 men, after a close and sanguinary action of three hours, attended with a loss to the Horatio of 7 killed and 26 wounded [errata 1], to her antagonist of 130 killed and wounded. On 21 Feb. 1810, having attained the rating of Midshipman, he further aided in making prize, at the close of a long chase, and of a running fight of one hour, of La Nécessité, pierced for 40 guns, but not mounting more than 28, with a complement on board of 186 men, and laden with naval stores and provisions from Brest, bound to the Isle of France. Between the following Oct. and June, 1815, he was cmployed on the Home, Baltic, West India, and North American stations, in the Aimable 32, Capt. John Chas. Woolcombe, Thisbe 28, Capt. Wm. Rogers, Bellette 18, Capt. David Sloane, and Asia 74 and Tonnant 80, flag-ships of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane, whom he accompanied in the expedition against New Orleans. On leaving the Tonnant, as above, he took up a commission bearing date 2 March, 1815. His last appointment was, 3 Sept. 1818, to the Driver 18, Capt. Chas. Hope Reid, in which vessel he served for about three years on the Leith station.


  1. Original: 33 wounded was amended to 26 wounded : detail