A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rigmaiden, James
RIGMAIDEN. (Lieutenant, 1812. f-p., 12: h-p., 31.)
James Rigmaiden entered the Navy, 6 April, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Merlin 16, Capt. Edw. Pelham Brenton, with whom he continued employed, as Midshipman, in the Amaranthe 18 and Belleisle 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Cockburn, and Donegal 74, until Nov. 1809. In the Merlin he assisted at the bombardment of Havre 23 July and 1 Aug. 1804; and while serving in the Amaranthe he aided in her boats with those of the Circe and Stork, commanded by Lieut. Jas. Hay (by whom his conduct was reported in very handsome terms) at the boarding and carrying, 13 Dec. 1808, under a heavy fire from the enemy’s batteries and troops on the beach, of the French 18-gun brig Le Cigne, lying aground to the northward of St. Pierre’s, Martinique.[1] He was present in the same vessel at the reduction of Martinique. In the Belleisle he escorted the Marquess Wellesley to and from Cadiz. After serving for a year and seven months at St. Helena, in the Channel, and among the Western Islands, in the Argo 44, Capt. Fred. Warren, and as Master’s Mate in the Spartan 38, Capt. E. P. Brenton, and Vengeur 74, flag-ship of Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke, he was nominated, in June, 1811, Acting-Lieutenant of the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Robt. Rolles. In the ensuing Aug. he was received as a Supernumerary-Midshipman on board the Africaine 38, Capt. Hon. Edw. Rodney, fitting for the East Indies; where he was made full Lieutenant, 21 March, 1812, into the Illustrious 74, flag-ship of Sir Sam. Hood, and next, 8 Jan. 1813, appointed to the Phoenix 36, Capts. Wm. Henry Webley and Chas. John Austen. Under the latter officer, on proceeding to the Mediterranean, he was actively employed in the suppression of piracy until wrecked in a hurricane near Smyrna, 20 Feb. 1816. He has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Bigmaiden married, 14 July, 1830, Frances Ann, only child of the late Geo. Brumwell, Esq. Agent – J. Hinxman.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 147.