A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Clayton, James
CLAYTON. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 32; h-p., 10.)
James Clayton entered the Navy, in 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Kent 74, Capts. Henry Garrett and Thos. Rogers, employed in the Channel and Mediterranean; removed, in 1809, to the Manilla 36, Capt. Geo. Fras. Seymour, off Lisbon; and, after serving for some time on board the Laurel 38, Capt. Sam. Campbell Rowley, in which we believe he was wrecked on the Govivas Rock, in the Teigneuse Passage, 31 .Jan. 1812, was promoted, 21 March following, to the rank of Lieutenant. Between Aug. 1812, and May, 1815, he was next employed, in the Apelles 14, Capt. Alex. M‘Vicar, and Archer 12, Capt. Wm. Slaughter, on the Home and Bermuda stations; after which he served on the Coast Blockade, from 31 May, 1823, to 1827, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, and Hyperion 42, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch, Wm. Jas. Mingaye, and Hugh Pigot. Since 14 May, 1828 (excepting from 26 March, 1836, to 26 March, 1839, when he held charge of the Sylvia Revenue-cutter), Mr. Clayton has been in command of a Coast Guard station. While in the Laurel,, he plunged overboard and saved the life of a seaman.
He married Jane, eldest daughter of Wm. Cornish, Esq., of Merazion, a Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Cornwall, grand-niece, maternally, of the late Capt. Sir Christopher Cole, R.N., K.C.B., and sister-in-law of Lieut. Geo. Gahan, R.N., by whom he has issue.