A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Valobra, James
VALOBRA. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 21; h-p., 36.)
James Valobra entered the Navy, 30 Sept. 1790, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Ruby 64, Capt. Sir John Collins; from which ship, lying at Spithead, he was discharged in 1791. Re-embarking, in 1793, on board the Berwick 74, Capts. Sir J. Collins, Geo. Campbell, Wm. Shield, Smith, and Adam Littlejohn, he was in her, after having witnessed the occupation of Toulon and assisted, as Midshipman, at the reduction of Corsica, captured by the French Mediterranean fleet, at the end of a long running fight 7 March, 1795. On 14 of the same month he was present on board one of the French ships in their partial engagement with Admiral Hotham off Genoa. On being released from captivity he joined, in Oct. 1795, the Terrible 74, Capts. Geo. Campbell, John Miller, and Sir Rich. Bickerton, employed at first in the Mediterranean and then in the Channel, where he was again, in Feb. 1799, placed under the command of Capt. Campbell, as Master’s Mate, in the Dragon 74. He was made Lieutenant, 31 Aug. following, into the Discovery bomb, Capt. John Dick, in the North Sea; and he was next appointed – 12 Dec. 1799, for upwards of two years, to the Glory 98, Capt. Thos. Wells, in the Channel – 30 Aug. 1803, to the Severn 40, Capt. the Duc de Bouillon, off Jersey – 30 Aug. 1804, to the command, in the Channel, of the Hero cutter – 10 Dec. ensuing, to the Drake sloop, Capt. John Drury, in the same station – 21 Feb. 1805, to the Royal William, flag-ship at Spithead – and 8 April, 1805, to the command of the Confounder brig, of 16 guns. In the latter vessel, in which he remained for upwards of nine years, he was at first, until the peace with Spain, stationed between Cabritta Point and the African side of the Gut of Gibraltar. He was afterwards employed off Malta and Sicily, and in the Adriatic and Archipelago. At different times he took, sunk, and otherwise destroyed nearly 80 of the enemy’s vessels, including privateers and gun-boats. As many as 200 sail were by him convoyed in safety to their various destinations; and full 20 times he came into collision with the enemies of his country. He had reason thus, at the end of the war, to anticipate promotion; but his expectation was not to be realized. He was placed on the Junior List of Retired Commanders 10 Feb. 1831; and on the Senior 7 Feb. 1844. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.