A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bance, James
BANCE. (Commander, 184 1. f-p., 16; h-p., 28)
James Bance entered the Navy, in May, 1803, as A.B., on board the Prince of Orange 74, Capt. Chas. Cunningham, employed in watching the Dutch fleet in the Texel. In Sept. following he accompanied the same officer, as Midshipman, into the Leopard 50, of which ship, on Capt. Rich. Raggett assuming the command, as Flag-Captain to Rear-Admiral Billy Douglas, on the Downs station, he became, in Aug. 1806, Master’s Mate. He next served with Capt. Raggett in the Leander and Africaine frigates, and with Sir Jas. Saumarez in the Victory 100, on the Halifax and Baltic stations; received an acting order as Lieutenant of the Zebra sloop, Capt. Thos. Rich. Toker, 13 June, 1808; and, on 9 Jan. 1809, was confirmed into the Mars 74, Capts. Wm. Lukin, John Surman Carden, and Henry Raper. After serving in the latter ship for four years on the Lisbon and Home stations, Lieut. Bance joined, 3 June, 1813, the Eridanus 36, Capt. Henry Prescott, with whom we find him cruising off the Western Islands until obliged to invalid, in March, 1815. His next and last appointment afloat was, 6 April, 1821, as First Lieutenant, to the Aurora 46, also commanded by Capt. Prescott, in which frigate he returned to England from South America, and was paid off in Feb. 1825. He attained the rank he now holds 23 Nov. 1841. Commander Bance is at present employed as Port-Captain at Cape Town, (Cape of Good Hope. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.