A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Elphick, James
ELPHICK. (Commander, 1821. f-p., 22; h-p., 30.)
James Elphick entered the Navy 25 July, 1795, as A.B., on board the Inflexible 64, Capt. Solomon Ferris, stationed in the North Sea; proceeded to Newfoundland, in 1798, as Midshipman bf the Brilliant 28, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood; and, after participating in a very spirited engagement with the French 44-gun frigates Vertu and Régénérée, accompanied that officer into the Penelope 36. On 31 March, 1800, while at the blockade of Malta, he assisted at the hard-wrought capture of Le Guillaume Tell, of 84 guns and 1000 men, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Decrès; subsequently to which event he attended the expedition to Egypt. He became Acting-Lieutenant, 5 Nov. 1801, of the Caroline 36, Capt. Wm. Bowen, and, being officially promoted 5 Jan. 1802, was afterwards appointed, 5 April, 1803, to the Britannia 120, Capt. the Earl of Northesk, employed in the Channel and off Cadiz – and 13 Jan. and 24 Sept. 1806, to the Gibraltar 80, Capt. Thos. Whitby, and Magnificent 74, Capts. Geo. Eyre and Willoughby Thos. Lake. As Senior Lieutenant of the latter ship, Mr. Elphick contributed to the reduction of Zante and Cephalonia in Oct. 1809; and in March and April, 1810, he distinguished himself as “a very gallant and zealous officer” at the siege of Sta. Maura.[1] We also find him actively co-operating with the patriots on the north coast of Spain in 1812. The Magnificent being paid oif on her return with convoy from the West Indies in Aug. 1815, he remained unemployed until 14 Sept. 1818, when he joined the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Severn 50, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch. Since his attainment of the rank of Commander, 19 July, 1821, he has not been afloat. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1136.