A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thomond, James
THOMOND, G.C.H., Marquess of, formerly LORD JAMES O’BRYEN. (Admiral of the Blue, 1847. f-p., 19; h-p., 45.)
The Right Honourable James Marquess of Thomond is second son of the late Edw. O’Bryen, Esq., a Captain in the Army; and nephew of Murrough, first Marquess of Thomond. He succeeded his eldest brother, as third Marquess, in 1846. A younger brother, Lord Edw. O’Bryen, Captain R.N. (1802), was Private Secretary to Lord Mulgrave during that nobleman’s naval administration; and two others, John and Murrough, were officers in the Army. His Lordship is uncle of Commander Wm. O’Bryen Hoare, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 17 April, 1783, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Hebe, Capts. Geo. Keppell and Edw. Thornbrough, stationed in the Channel. From April, 1786, until July, 1789, he was employed on the coast of North America and in the West Indies as Midshipman (a rating he had before attained) in the Pegasus and Andromeda frigates, both commanded by his late Majesty; under whom he was further, from May, 1790, until promoted in the following Nov. to the rank of Lieutenant, employed, with the Channel fleet, in the Valiant 74. In the course of 1793-4 he joined in succession, on the Home station, the London 98, Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats, Artois 38, Capt. Lord Chas. Fitzgerald, Active 38, Capt. Thos. Wolley, and Brunswick 74, Capt. Lord C. Fitzgerald. In the latter ship he was present in Cornwallis’ celebrated retreat, 16 and 17 June, 1795. On 5 Dec. 1796, at which period he had been for nearly seven months employed with Sir Edw. Pellew in the Indefatigable 44, he was promoted to the command of the Childers sloop. In that vessel [1] he continued to serve in the Channel until posted, 14 Feb. 1799, into the Thisbe 28. Her he paid off in the course of the same year. He afterwards, from the close of 1800 until 1804, commanded the Emerald 36, on the West India station; he then removed for a very brief period to the Diadem 64; and from Sept. 1813 until Nov. 1815 he served in the Channel in the Warspite 74. In the Emerald he made prize, 24 June, 1803, of L’Enfant Prodigue, French national schooner of 16 guns, the whole of which were thrown overboard during a chase of 72 hours. In the same month he co-operated in the reduction of Ste. Lucie; and in the spring of 1804 he distinguished himself by his intrepidity, and by the indefatigable zeal he displayed in arranging and forwarding the supplies, at the capture of Surinam. He also, while in the Emerald, defeated an expedition projected by the enemy against Antigua. He became a Rear-Admiral 27 May, 1825; a Vice-Admiral 10 Jan. 1837; and a full Admiral 13 May, 1847.
His Lordship was nominated a G.C.H. 13 May, 1831. He married first, 25 Nov. 1800, Eliza Bridgeman, daughter of Jas. Willyams, Esq., of Carnanton, co. Cornwall; and, that lady dying 14 Feb. 1802, secondly, Jane, daughter of Thos. Ottley, Esq., and relict of Valentine Horsford, Esq., of the island of Antigua. He was again left a widower in 1843. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ She was in company with the Indefatigable and Cambrian 40, at the capture, 4 Jan. 1798, of Le Vengeur privateer of 12 guns and 72 men.