A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ward, James Hamilton
WARD. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 19; h-p., 12.)
James Hamilton Ward, born 23 Dec. 1802, is third son of the late Right Hon. Robt. Ward, of Bangor Castle, Colonel of the South Down Militia, by his second wife, Louisa Jane, second daughter and co-heir of the Rev. Dr. Abraham Symes; and nephew of Nicholas, second Viscount Bangor. His eldest half-brother, Edw. Michael, Minister-Plenipotentiary at Dresden, married a daughter of the first Marquess of Londonderry.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 7 Nov. 1816; and embarked, 13 Jan. 1818, as a Volunteer, on board the Spartan frigate, Capt. Wm. Furlong Wise, employed in the Channel and on particular service. In March, 1819 (he had already attained the rating of Midshipman), he removed to the Cherokee 10, Capt. Theobald Jones, stationed in the North Sea; and in the following Sept. he joined the Leander 60, bearing the flag of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood in the East Indies; where he was nominated, 9 and 17 Feb. 1822, Acting-Lieutenant of the Curlew 18, Capt. Price Blackwood, and Glasgow 50, Capt. Bentinck Cavendish Doyle. He was confirmed 20 July in the same year. Returning to England in the summer of 1823 he was appointed next – 20 Sept. 1828, to the Prince Regent 120, as Flag-Lieutenant to Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, Commander-in-Chief at Chatham – 26 April, 1830, as Senior, to the Pelican 18, Capt. Joseph Gape, fitting for the Mediterranean, whence he returned to England and was paid off in March, 1834 – 29 May, 1835, to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Thos. Hastings – 23 March, 1836, as First, to the Asia 84, Capt. Wm. Fisher, with whom he again sailed for the Mediterranean – and, 25 Jan. 1837, in a similar capacity, to his former ship the Excellent. He attained the rank of Commander 28 June, 1838; served as such in the Hecate steamer in the Mediterranean, from 14 Sept. 1840 until paid off 23 Aug. 1843; and was advanced to his present rank 9 Nov. 1846.
Capt. Ward married, 26 July, 1839, the Hon. Elizabeth Dorcas Blackwood, daughter of Hans, third Lord Dufferin and Claneboye, and niece of the late Vice-Admiral Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, Bart., G.C.H.