A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Parkin, James Lamport
PARKIN. (Commander, 1837. f-p., 22; h-p., 16.)
James Lamport Parkin entered the Navy, 13 April, 1809, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Achille 74, Capts. Sir Rich. King, Hon. Geo. Heneage Lawrence Dundas, and Aiskew Paffard Hollis. During his attachment to that ship he accompanied the expedition to Flushing, cruized off Cherbourg and Cadiz, and was for a time employed, in the capacity of Midshipman, in blockading the French and Venetian squadrons at Venice, consisting of three line-of-battle ships and a frigate ready for sea, and of several of each class fitting in the arsenal. After a servitude of three years and a half on the Mediterranean, North American, and St. Helena stations in the Havannah 36, Capts. Hon. Geo. Cadogan, Jas. Black, Edw. Reynolds Sibly, and Gawen Wm. Hamilton, he was received, in July, 1816, as Master’s Mate, on board the Minden 74, Capt. Wm. Paterson, under whom he took part in the bombardment of Algiers, and then sailed for the East Indies; where he became, 11 March, 1817, Acting-Lieutenant of the Orlando 36, flag-ship of Sir Rich. King, and, 12 Feb. and 1 May, 1818, Acting-Second-Master and full Lieutenant of the Minden, then the flag-ship of Sir Rich. King. The latter vessel being paid off about 1820 he was subsequently appointed – 23 Oct. 1823, to the Ocean 80, flag-ship of Lord Amelius Beauclerk off Lisbon, where he remained three years – 22 Oct. 1828, as First, to the Cruizer 18, Capts. John Edw. Griffith Colpoys and John Parker, with whom he served in the East Indies until 1832 – and, 3 May, 1834, to the Hastings 74, as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir Wm. Hall Gage at Lisbon. While attached to the Cruizer, of which vessel he held the command for a short period, Lieut. Parkin was actively employed on the Swan River. He was advanced to his present rank, on the return home of the Hastings, 23 Dec. 1837; and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.