A Naval Biographical Dictionary/St. Leger, James Aldworth
ST. LEGER. (Commander, 1848.)
James Aldworth St. Leger, born 20 Feb. 1814, is second son of the late Hon. Rich. St. Leger (second son of the first Viscount Doneraile), by his second wife, Eliza, only child of Dan. lRobt. Bullen, Esq., of Old Connaught, co. Dublin.
This officer entered the Navy 9 Aug. 1828; and passed his examination in 1835. While Mate, in China, of the Calliope 26, Capt. Thos. Herbert, he assisted in the boats at the capture and destruction of 11 out of 13 war-junks, near Chuenpee, 7 Jan. 1841[1] – was present in an attack made, 27 Feb. following, on the enemy’s camp, fort, and ship Cambridge, bearing the Chinese Admiral’s flag (which he boarded) at their position below Whampoa Reach, where 98 guns were in the whole destroyed[2] – contributed to the capture, 13 March, of several rafts and of the last fort protecting the approaches to Canton[3] – and was attached to the western division of boats at the capture, six days after, of that city itself.[4] For these services he was promoted, 8 June, 1841, to the rank of Lieutenant. While belonging, in the course of the same year, to the Blenheim 72, also commanded by Capt. Herbert, he co-operated in the reduction of Amoy and Chinghae.[5] He was paid off from the Blenheim in March, 1843; and was next, from 9 Sept. 1844 until 1848, employed on the coast of Africa and on the North America and West India station, as Second and First Lieutenant in the Flying Fish 12, Capts. Robt. Harris and Peché Hart Dyke, and Pantaloon 10, Capt. Henry John Douglas. He attained his present rank 12 Aug. 1848. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.