A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stevenson, James
STEVENSON. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 23; h-p., 41.)
James Stevenson entered the Navy, in 1783, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Bonetta sloop, Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats, stationed on the coast of North America; where he continued employed until Nov. 1789, part of the time as Midshipman, in the Assistance, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Douglas, Hermione 32, Capt. Stone, Resource, Capt. Paul Minchin, Brisk, Capt. Edw. Buller, and Thisbe 28, Capt. Sam. Hood. He served next with the officer last mentioned in the Channel and West Indies, from May, 1790, until April, 1792, in the Juno 32; and in Aug. 1796 he joined the Centurion 50, Capt. Sam. Osborne, in the East Indies; on which station he was nominated, 3 Dec. following and 22 Sept. 1797, Acting-Lieutenant of the Victorious 74, Capts. Wm. Clark and Pulteney Malcolm. In the latter ship, to which he was confirmed 11 June, 1798, he assisted at the blockade of Mangalore. He returned to England in Aug. 1803; obtained, in 1804, an appointment in the Sea Fencibles at Dundee; acquired the rank of Commander 22 Jan. 1806; and from 25 Sept. following until the receipt of his Post-commission, bearing date 27 Feb. 1812, was employed (with the exception of an interval of two months in the summer of 1808) in the Gannet 16, on various parts of the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Home stations. He made prize, during that period, of two privateers, and accompanied the expeditions to Copenhagen and the Walcheren. He accepted his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.