A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stoddart, James
STODDART. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 15; h-p., 5.)
James Stoddart is third son of the late Rear-Admiral Pringle Stoddart.
This officer entered the Navy, 27 April, 1827, as Midshipman, on board the Wellesley 74, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, fitting for the Mediterranean; on his return whence he joined, in Oct. 1830, the St. Vincent 120, Capt. Hyde Parker. He served next, from Feb. 1831 until Oct. 1834, as Midshipman and Mate (he passed his examination in July, 1833), in the Asia 84, flag-ship of the present Sir Wm. Parker off Lisbon – from April, 1835, until Oct. 1837, as Mate and Acting-Lieutenant, in the Columbine 18, Capt. Thos. Henderson, in the Mediterranean and on the coast of Africa – and from the latter date until Dec. 1838, as Mate, in the Donegal 78, Capt. John Drake, again off Lisbon. His official promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place on 27 of the month last mentioned. His next appointments were – 26 June, 1839, for 12 months, to the Princess Charlotte 104, bearing the flag of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford in the Mediterranean – 27 Oct. 1840 to the Impregnable 104, Capt. Thos. Forrest, fitting at Plymouth – and 5 April, 1841, to the Cornwallis 72, fitting for the flag of Sir Wm. Parker, Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies. For his exertions during the operations on the coast of China, where he served on shore at the capture of Woosung,[1] assisted at the reduction of Shanghae, and displayed excellent judgment and good conduct in command of the boats in the attack upon Chin-Kiang-Foo,t[2]he was promoted to his present rank 23 Dec. 1842.[3]: Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.