Royal Naval Biography/Philips, James Robert
JAMES ROBERT PHILIPS, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1807.]
A son, we believe, of the late Mr. Philips, Master R.N. whom we have heard described as a very respectable officer.
The subject of this sketch is said to be a native of Scarborough, and we first find him serving as a Midshipman on board the Majestic 74, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Caldwell, by whom he was made a Lieutenant, into the same ship, on the Leeward Islands’ station, in Dec, 1705. His next appointment was to the Beaulieu of 40 guns, in which frigate he witnessed the defeat of Admiral de Winter, by the heroic Duncan, off Camperdown, Oct. 11, 1797.
At the close of that memorable conflict, Lieutenant Philips took charge of the Monnikendam, a Dutch 40, which ship had been engaged by the Monmouth 64, and was finally taken possession of by the Beaulieu. In her he had the misfortune to be wrecked on a sand near West Capel, and himself and his people were consequently taken prisoners.
From this period we have no certain information respecting Lieutenant Philips until his appointment to the Centurion of 50 guns. The gallant manner in which he defended that ship, when attacked by a French squadron under Mons. Linois, Sept. 18, 1804, has been fully described at p. 875, et seq. of Vol. II. part II. His commission as a Commander bears date Mar. 15, 1805.
In June, 1806, Captain Philips was appointed to the Bonetta of 14 guns, and ordered to act as commander of the Gannet 16, at Sheerness, until the arrival there of the former sloop, then absent on convoy service. During the remainder of that year, he was principally employed escorting merchantmen to and from the German rivers; and, in 1807, we find him accompanying Captain Collard to the Baltic, where he continued affording protection to the trade passing up und down that sea, until his promotion to post rank, Oct. 13, 1807. He was superseded in the command of the Bonetta, on his return from Copenhagen, at the close of the same year, and has not since held any appointment.
Lieutenant John Alexander Philips, R.M.A. brother to the subject of this sketch, served as a Midshipman under Captain (now Sir William) Hargood, on the glorious 21 Oct. 1805; and subsequently as Master’s Mate of the Lionetta, which vessel he left in order to join the royal marines, 1806.