A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Eaton, James
EATON. (Retired Commander, 1842. f-p., 16; h-p., 32.)
James Eaton entered the Navy, 13 Feb. 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Quebec 32, Capt. Henry Wm. Bayntun, stationed in the West Indies; became Midshipman, 2 Sept. 1800, of La Prompte 20, Capt. Robt. Philpot; and on removing to the Hannibal 74, Capt. Solomon Ferris, was quartered in the mizen-top, and narrowly escaped destruction, when that ship, having grounded under the enemy’s batteries, was compelled, after a long and deadly resistance, inflictive on her of a loss of 81 men killed and 62 wounded, to strike her colours, in the action off Algeciras, 6 July, 1801. Being exchanged on 18 of the same month, he returned home in the San Antonio 74, Capt. Hon. Geo. Heneage Lawrence Dundas, one of the prizes taken near Cadiz in the battle of the 13th. After an attachment of 20 months, as Admiralty-Midshipman, to the Atalante 16, Capt. Joseph Ore Mansfield – during which period he was very constantly engaged on open-boat service in the suppression of smuggling, and on one occasion, 9 Oct. 1803, assisted at the cutting out, in face of a fiery opposition, of two French ketches and a brig, near St. Gildas, in Quiberon Bay – Mr. Eaton, in March, 1804, joined the Téméraire 98, Capt. Elias Harvey. Being Signal-Midshipman on the memorable 21 Oct. 1805, he had the honour of repeating from the Victory Nelson’s last immortal signal, “England expects,” &c.; and he also assisted during the action in lashing to the Téméraire the French 74-gun ships Fougueux and Redoubtable, one on either side. For his conduct he was rewarded with a commission dated 13 Jan. 1806, and appointed to the Lion 64, Capts. Robt. Rolles and Henry Heathcote. During the nearly six years of his continuance in that ship, Mr. Eaton took out a convoy to China; was severely wounded, while in temporary command of her tender, in an attack made on that vessel by 13 Ladrone warjunks; and, independently of one or two particular services, co-operated in the reduction of Java. On 8 Sept. 1812, after having been laid up for some time at Haslar Hospital, we find him appointed First of the Beaver 10, Capt. Edw. O’Brien Drury, by whom, in July, 1813, he was sent home with despatches containing intelligence of the American Commodore Rodgers and his squadron having put into North Bergen, on the coast of Norway. On rejoining the Beaver he particularly distinguished himself by his intrepidity, on 24 Oct. 1813, in putting off in the jolly-boat, with the only three men out of the whole ship’s company who would volunteer, to the rescue, during a violent gale, of the crew of a Swedish vessel then on the point of foundering. Mr. Eaton, who was compelled to invalid in Aug. 1814, from a severe attack of rheumatism, brought on by over-exertion and exposure, with the loss also of the sight of one eye, and who has noti since been employed, accepted his present rank 26 May, 1842.
He married in 1816. Agent – J. Hinxman.