A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Townsend, James
TOWNSEND. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 19: h-p., 35.)
James Townsend is youngest son of the late Rev. Joseph Townsend, Rector of Pewsey, co. Wilts; and nephew of the late Jas. Townsend, Esq., M.P. for Calne.
This officer entered the Navy, in Jan. 1793, as Lieutenant’s Servant, on board the Leviathan 74, Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral) Lord Hugh Seymour, with whom, deducting an interval of 12 months in 1794-5, he continued employed, in the Channel, North Sea, and West Indies, in the same ship, and, as Midshipman, in the Sans Pareil 80 (part of the force engaged under Lord Bridport in the action ofF Ile de Groix 23 June, 1795, and of the fleet concerned in the mutiny at the Nore in 1797), until nominated, 14 Jan. 1800, Acting-Lieutenant, on the station last named, of the Gaiété 20, Capts. Edw. Durnford King, Rich. Peacocke, Robt. Fanshawe, and Joseph Briggs. In that vessel, to which he was confirmed 19 Dec. following, he assisted at the capture of the Danish and Swedish islands, and saw much active service. He returned to England at the peace; and was afterwards appointed – 11 Nov. 1802, to the Albion 74, Capt. John Ferrier, stationed at first in the Channel and next in the East Indies, whence he invalided in June, 1804 – in the course of 1805-6, to the Atlas 74, Veteran 64, and Hercule 74, Capts. Sam. Pym, Andrew Fitzherbert Evans, and Barrington Dacres, all in the West Indies, where he fought, in the Atlas, in the action off St. Domingo – 26 Dec. 1806 and 1 Aug. 1807, to the Uranie 38, Capt. Christopher Laroche, and Tonnant 80, flag-ship of Hon. Michael De Courcy, both in the Channel – 7 Nov. 1809 and 4 May, 1810, to the San Josef 110 and Hibernia 120, Capts. Rich. Dalling Dunn and John Nash, stationed (the former under the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth) off Cadiz and Gibraltar – 10 Dec. 1810, to the Antelope 50, flag-ship of Sir J. T. Duckworth at Newfoundland – and 5 April, 1813, as First-Lieutenant (a post he had filled on board the Uranie), to the Queen 74, Capt. Lord John Colville, employed successively in the North Sea, Channel, and West Indies. While serving in the Albion he assisted at the capture of the French frigate La Franchise (which he was ordered to conduct into port) and the privateer Clarisse of 12 guns and 157 men. He was advanced to his present rank 27 June, 1814; and has since been on half-pay.
Commander Townsend married, 5 Jan. 1815, Frances Phipps, daughter of the Rev. Thos. Biddulph, Vicar of Padstow, Cornwall, and first cousin of the late Earl Beauchamp.