A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Elliott, James Burnett
ELLIOTT. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 12; h-p., 32.)
James Burnett Elliott, born 22 Aug. 1791, is brother (with John Elliott, Esq., Purser and Paymaster, R.N., and Storekeeper’s Assistant at Deptford Dockyard) of the late Capt. Sir Wm. Elliott,[1] Kt., C.B., K.C.H., K.T.S., and of the late Lieut. Thos. Elliott, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 March, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Plantagenet 74, Capts. Graham Eden Hamond, Hon. Michael De Courcy, and Fras. Pender; of which ship, employed in the Channel, he became a Midshipman 20 Feb. 1804. After assisting at the capture of L’Atalante privateer, of 22 guns and 120 men, he removed, in April, 1805, to the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, under whom be fought in the battle off Cape Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805. Rejoining the Plantagenet, in Dec. 1806, at that time commanded by Capt. Wm. Bradley, he took command in 1808 of a boat belonging to that ship, and, after an exposure of three hours to a heavy fire from the enemy, assisted in rescuing an English sloop-of-war which had been becalmed under the fort of St. Julien, near Lisbon. He was also, for several successive nights in 1809, employed in the boats when they were placed under a Russian fort in Revel Bay, preparatory to an attack upon some hostile vessels; and in 1812, leaving intermediately served in the Salvador del Mundo and Africa, flag-ships at Plymouth and Halifax of Admirals Wm. Young and Sir Herbert Sawyer, and been appointed to the Crocodile 28, commanded, on the Newfoundland station, by his brother, Capt. Wm. Elliott, he again served in the boats at the cutting out of 19 armed-vessels, warmly defended by a battery on the coast of France. Mr. Elliott, who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (while serving on board the Dannemark 74, Capt. Henry Edw. Reginald Baker) by commission dated 2 Feb. 1815, has since that period been on half-pay.
He married 11 Jan. 1816, and has issue three children.
- ↑ Sir William Elliott was born 15 Dec. 1782. Entering the Navy 21 Feb. 1795, he was wounded, as Fst.-class Vol. of the Irresistible 74, in Bridport’s action, and served as Midshipman of the Russel 74, at Camperdown and Copenhagen. As Lieutenant of the Daphne and Castor, he commanded a party of seamen at the storming of Monto Video, was again wounded while conducting a desperate cutting-out affair in the harbour of Flodstrand, and contributed to the capture of the French 74-gun ship D’Haupoult. When in command of the Pultusk and Hazard sloops, Capt. Elliott distinguished himself by the gallant manner in which he attacked and carried a strong fort, garrisoned by 300 Frenchmen, in the port of Des Hayes, and also by his conduct ashore and afloat at the reduction of Guadeloupe. He was promoted to Post-rank 16 Oct. 1810; and during three years of the peace commanded the Revenge 76. He died suddenly while serving in the Royal Adelaide 104, as Flag-Captain to Lord Amelius Beauclerk, Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth, 15 Sept. 1888.