Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Douglas, James (1703-1787)
DOUGLAS, Sir JAMES (1703–1787), admiral, son of George Douglas of Friarshaw, Roxburghshire, was, on 19 March 1743–4, promoted to be captain of the Mermaid of 40 guns, and commanded her at the reduction of Louisbourg by Commodore Warren. In 1746 he commanded the Vigilant of 64 guns on the same station, and for a short time in 1748 the Berwick of 74 guns, which was paid off at the peace. In 1756 he commanded the Bedford in the home fleet under Boscawen and Knowles, and in December and January (1756–7) was a member of the court-martial which tried and condemned Admiral Byng. In 1757 he commanded the Alcide in the bootless expedition against Rochfort. In 1759, still in the Alcide, he served under Sir Charles Saunders at the reduction of Quebec, and was sent home with the news of the success, an honourable distinction, which obtained for him knighthood and a gift of 500l. from the king. In 1760 he was appointed to the Dublin as commodore and commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station; and in 1761 the squadron under his command, in conjunction with a body of soldiers under Lord Rollo, captured the island of Dominica. In 1762 he was superseded by Rear-admiral Rodney, under whom he served as second in command at the reduction of Martinique, after which he was despatched with several of the ships to Jamaica. With these he reinforced the fleet off Havana under Sir George Pocock (Beatson, ii. 532, 553), and he himself, with his broad pennant in the Centurion, returned to England in charge of convoy. Towards the end of the year he was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral, and on the conclusion of peace went out again to the West Indies as commander-in-chief. In October 1770 he was promoted to be vice-admiral, and in 1773 hoisted his flag on board the Barfleur as commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, an appointment which he held for the next three years. In 1778 he attained the rank of admiral, but had no further service. He was for many years member of parliament for Orkney, was created a baronet in 1786, and died in 1787. He was twice married, and by his first wife left issue, in whose line the title still is.
[Charnock's Biog. Navalis, v. 290; Beatson's Nav. and Mil. Memoirs, vols. ii. and iii.; Gent. Mag. (1787), vol. lvii. pt. ii. p. 1027; Burke's Peerage and Baronetage; Foster's Baronetage.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.101
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 332 | i | 2-1 f.e. | Douglas, Sir James (1703-1787): for for many years read from 1764 to 1768 |