James Gambier (Royal Navy officer)

Vice-Admiral James Gambier (1723–1789) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, North American Station. The historian David Syrett presented a study of Gambier, which presented him as corrupt and largely disliked by his fellow officers.

For the Admiral of the Fleet, see James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier.

James Gambier
Born1723
Died1789 (aged 65–66)
Allegiance Great Britain
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Activec. 1740–1784
RankVice-Admiral
Commands heldJamaica Station
WarsSeven Years' War

Gambier joined the Royal Navy in about 1740 being promoted to Lieutenant in 1743.[1] Promoted to Captain, he commanded HMS Flamborough and HMS Squirrel.[1] Later he commanded HMS Burford and took part in the capture of Louisbourg and the capture of Guadeloupe.[1]

In 1770 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station;[1] this appointment had been predictable because of his connections with the Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish.[2] He was subsequently removed from control of the North American Station, following the rise of Lord Sandwich as First Lord of the Admiralty.[2] In 1773 he was made Commissioner of Victualling Accounts on the Navy Board in an attempt to make amends to him for his political removal from his command in North America.[1][2] In September of that same year Gambier was appointed commissioner of Portsmouth. However, Gambier was not very successful or content with this position, as he was completely unprepared for managing a large civilian organization such as that at Portsmouth.[2] After becoming rear-admiral of the red from seniority in 1778, he returned to North America and was briefly Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station again after resigning from the commissionership at Portsmouth.[1][2] During his time in the post, Gambier was repeatedly accused of corruption and he was despised by many of his contemporaries.[2]

In October 1783 he became Commander-in-Chief in the Jamaica Station.[3] He was not well liked by his men and was once described as "this penurious old reptile".[2] He retired in 1784.[1]

Captain George Vancouver likely named Gambier Point, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska after Gambier in 1794.[4][5]

Family

Gambier's nephew also became an admiral and later 1st Baron Gambier. Gambier's son, also James Gambier (1772-1844), was British consul-general to the Portuguese royal court from 1803. He followed the court's transfer to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1808, and returned to England in 1814. James Gambier the younger's illegitimate son was Royal Navy officer James Fitzjames, making him James Gambier the elder's grandson.[6]

See also

References
  1. James Gambier at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2. Syrett, David (February 2001). "'This penurious old reptile': Rear-Admiral James Gambier and the American War". Historical Research. Wiley-Blackwell. 74 (183): 63–76. doi:10.1111/1468-2281.00116.
  3. Cundall, p. xx
  4. Baker, Marcus, 1849-1903. (1902). Geographic dictionary of Alaska. Govt. Print. Off. OCLC 5045388.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Vancouver, George, 1757-1798. (1801). A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world : in which the coast of north-west America has been carefully examined and accurately surveyed : undertaken by His Majesty's command, principally with a view to ascertain the existence of any navigable communication between the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans ; and performed in the years 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795, in the Discovery sloop of war, and armed tender Chatham, under the command of Captain George Vancouver. Printed for John Stockdale. ISBN 0-665-42061-7. OCLC 1111838457.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Battersby, William (2010). James Fitzjames: The Mystery Man of the Franklin Expedition. Dundurn. ISBN 9781459710733.

Sources
Military offices
Preceded by
Samuel Hood		 Commander-in-Chief, North American Station
1770–1771		 Succeeded by
John Montagu
Preceded by
Richard Howe		 Commander-in-Chief, North American Station
1778–1779		 Succeeded by
John Byron
Preceded by
Joshua Rowley		 Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica Station
1783–1784		 Succeeded by
John Pakenham
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