A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Willoughby, James Beautine
WILLOUGHBY. (Commander, 1846.)
James Beautine Willoughby is a cousin of Rear-Admiral Sir Nesbit Josiah Willoughby, Kt., C.B., K.C.H.
This officer entered the Navy 20 May, 1830; passed his examination 5 Feb. 1837; served for some time as Mate in the Niagara 20, Capt. Williams Sandom, on the Lakes of Canada; and on the occasion of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant 14 Dec. 1841, was nominated Additional, for a short period, of the Illustrious 72, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Adam on the North America and West India station. He was employed next, from 12 Oct. 1842 until the summer of 1844, in the Warspite 50, Capts. Lord John Hay and Provo Wm. Parry Wallis, in the Mediterranean; and from 3 Nov. 1845, until after his promotion to the rank he now holds, which took place 9 Nov. 1846, in the Mohawk and Cherokee steamers, each commanded by Lieut. Wm. Newton Fowell, on the Canadian Lakes. He has since been on half-pay.
At a meeting of the Committee of the Royal Humane Society, held 17 Feb. 1847, the unanimous thanks of the Committee were presented to Commander Willoughby for “the judgment, coolness, and intrepidity displayed by him on 25 Nov. 1846 in rescuing the crew of a vessel wrecked on Pigeon Island, Lake Ontario, and who were nearly perished from the; intense cold, by his having undertaken the dangerous task of proceeding in one boat, and George Parker, boatswain’s mate, in another, through a high surf, and the risk of landing imminent.” He had been already awarded the Honorary Medal of the Institution for his courage and humanity on a similar occasion.