A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gordon, James Murray
GORDON. (Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 1846. f-p., 14; h-p., 39.)
James Murray Gordon, born 6 March, 1782, is son of the late Thos. Gordon, Esq.; and brother of the late Lieut.-Colonel Thos. Wm. Gordon, of the Fusileer Guards.
This officer entered the Navy, 25 June, 1794, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Brittania 100, Capt. John Holloway, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Admiral Wm. Hotham, in whose ensuing action of 13 July with the French fleet we believe he was a participator. After serving for rather more than five years as Midshipman, on the same, and on the Home and East India stations, in the Tarlton, Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, and Virginie, Capts. Anth. Hunt and Geo. Astle, Mr. Gordon became Acting-Lieutenant, 18 July, 1800, of the Vulcan bomb, Capts. Jeremiah Skelton, Peter Heywood, and Chas. Jas. Johnston, also stationed in the East Indies; where he removed in a similar capacity to the Trincomalee 13, and Dédaigneuse frigate, both commanded by Capt. Heywood; to which latter vessel he was confirmed by commission dated 25 Feb. 1803. He assumed the acting-command, on 26 May, 1805, of the Albatross sloop, and, being officially appointed to that vessel 1 Feb. 1806, continued to serve in her in the East until 28 Feb. 1807. He then returned to England, but was soon again ordered to India in the Procris 18, of which vessel he assumed command on 19 of the following Oct. As a Post-Captain, a rank he attained 15 Feb. 1808, Capt. Gordon was further employed on that station, in the Terpsichore frigate, from 28 April in the same year, until 28 July, 1809. We do not find that he has since held any appointment. His promotion to Flag-rank took place 9 Nov. 1846.
Rear-Admiral Gordon married, 10 Dec. 1810, Sarah Almeria, daughter of Archdeacon Caulfeild, and relict of Capt. Charlton, E.I.Co.’s Service. By that lady, who died 21 Dec. 1821, he had issue two sons and two daughters. The second son, James, Lieutenant in the 92nd Highlanders, died in 1841. Agents – Pettet and Newton.