A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hope, James
HOPE, C.B. (Captain, 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 9.)
James Hope, born 8 March, 1808, is son of Rear-Admiral Sir Geo. Hope, K.C.B., by his first wife. Lady Jemima Hope Johnstone, fifth daughter of James, third Earl of Hopetoun; brother-in-law of Sir Harry Verney, Bart.; and cousin of the present Rear-Admiral Henry Hope, C.B.
This officer entered the R.N. College 1 Aug. 1820; embarked about June, 1822; and, after serving in the West Indies and Mediterranean on board the Forte and Cambrian frigates, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 9 March, 1827. His next appointments were, 16 Sept. and 3 Oct. 1827, to the Maidstone 42, Capt. Wm. Skipsey, and Undaunted 46, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, in the latter of which ships he escorted Lord Wm. Bentinck as Governor-General to India, and brought home Major-General Bourke, late Lieut.-Governor of the Cape. He became, in Aug. 1829, Flag-Lieutenant to Lord Northesk, Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth; and, obtaining a second promotal commission 26 Feb. 1830, Capt. Hope was, from 13 July, 1833, until paid off in 1838, employed on the North America and West India station in command of the Racer 16. He acquired his present rank on 28 June in the latter year; and, since 13 Dec. 1844, has been Captain of the Firebrand steam-frigate, on the south-east coast of America. On 20 Nov. 1845, Capt. Hope enacted a conspicuous part in the battle of the Parana, where a hard day’s fighting resulted in the destruction, by the combined squadrons of England and France, of four heavy batteries belonging to General Rosas at Punta Obligado, also of a schooner-of-war carrying 6 guns, and of 24 vessels chained across the river. On that occasion, having volunteered, he gallantly pulled up in his boat and cut the chain which impeded the upward progress of the allies. At the close of the action he landed as Aide-de-Camp to Capt. Chas. Hotham, the Senior British officer, and assisted in giving the coup-de-grace to the defeat of the enemy, whose numbers originally consisted of 3500 men, in cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and whose batteries had mounted 22 pieces of ordnance.[1] As a reward for his conduct he was nominated a C.B. 3 April, 1846.
Capt. Hope is a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Linlithgow. He married, 16 Aug. 1838, the Hon. Frederica Kinnaird, daughter of Charles, eighth Lord Kinnaird. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1846, pp. 816-17.