A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wilson, James
WILSON. (Commander, 1828. f-p., 20; h-p., 30.)
James Wilson entered the Navy, 6 Nov. 1797, as Midshipman, on board the Blenheim 98, Capt. Robt. Campbell, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thos. Lennox Frederick off Cadiz, where he was frequently employed at night in rowing guard. He continued to serve with Capt. Campbell in the Hector 74 and Santa Teresa 36 until 1802. While in the latter ship he witnessed the surrender of Malta; during the siege of which island we again find him engaged in rowing guard. He assisted also in cutting out different vessels from the coast of France; and on 8 and 21 March, 1801, was present at the landing of the troops in Egypt and at the battle fought near Alexandria, in which Sir Ralph Abercromby was mortally wounded. On leaving the Santa Teresa he joined first the Amazon 38, Capt. Sam. Sutton, and then, as Master’s Mate, the Apollo 36, Capt. John Wm. Taylor Dixon; under whom he was wrecked on the coast of Portugal 1 April, 1804. After serving as Midshipman and Acting-Lieutenant in the Railleur 18, Capt. Valentine Collard, off Boulogne, where he contributed to the capture, 24 April, 1805, of seven schuyts, carrying in the whole 18 guns, 1 brass howitzer, and 168 men, he was nominated, 3 Sept. in the same year, Sub-Lieutenant of the Calypso 18, Capt. Matthew Barton Bradby. He was made full Lieutenant, 22 Jan. 1806, into the Monarch 74, Capt. John Clarke Searle, in the Channel; he invalided from that ship in the following Sept.; and he was appointed subsequently – 13 May, 1807, to the Hercule 74, Capt. Hon. John Colville, part of the force employed in the expedition against Copenhagen, where he landed and was one of those selected to construct intrenchments under Sir Home Popham – 14 May, 1808 (after six months of half-pay), to the Majestic 74, Capts. V. Collard, Matthew Forster, and Thos. Harvey, stationed in the North Sea and Baltic, at first under the flag of Vice-Admiral Thos. Macnamara Russell – 3 Feb. 1810, as Senior-Lieutenant (a post he had latterly filled on board the Majestic), to the Vulture 18, Capt. Martin White, off Guernsey – 24 Oct. 1814, in a similar capacity (ill health had obliged him to quit the Vulture in Aug. 1810), to the Apelles 14, Capt. Alex. M‘Vicar, at Leith – 28 Dec. 1815, again as First (the Apelles had been paid off 1 Sept. preceding), to the Towey 24, Capts. Hew Steuart and Wm. Hill, fitting for the East Indies, whence he invalided in Aug. 1818 – 17 Nov. 1823, to the Perseus receiving-ship off the Tower, Capt. Jas. Couch – and, 30 July, 1825, to the Sussex Coast Blockade. He remained in the latter service as Supernumerary and First Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, until promoted to the rank of Commander 18 Sept. 1828. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.