A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Irvine, James
IRVINE. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 8; h-p., 32.)
James Irvine entered the Navy, 17 June, 1807, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Cambrian 40, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, and, after serving at the capture of Copenhagen, removed to the Éclair sloop, Capt. Chas. Kempthome Quash. From Oct. 1808 (during the three months immediately antecedent to which period he had been attached, off Flushing and the Texel, to the Warspite 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood) he joined L’Aimable 32, in which frigate, and in the Horatio 38, both commanded by Lord Geo. Stuart, we find him continuously employed, as Midshipman, until Feb. 1811. He was in consequence present in the former ship at the blockade of the Elbe, and at the capture, 3 Feb. 1809, of L’Iris French national ship, pierced for 32 guns, but mounting only 24, after a short running fight, in which the latter sustained a loss of 2 men killed and 8 wounded, and L’Aimable (besides being materially damaged in her masts, spars, sails, and rigging) of 2 wounded; and in the Horatio, on her return from the Cape of Good Hope to the North Sea, at the reduction of the islands of Schouwen and Tholen in Dec. 1813. In March, 1814, Mr. Irvine was transferred to the Tonnant 80, bearing the flag of Sir Alex. Cochrane on the coast of North America, where, from 1 Oct. following until 7 June, 1815, he performed the duties of Acting-Lieutenant on board the Spencer 74, Capt. Rich. Raggett. He then took up a commission dated on 8 March in the latter year; and has since been on half-pay.