Home > William James (naval commander)

A poor Welsh miller's son, James ran away to sea in 1732 and by 1738 was commanding his own ship and serving in the West Indies. Nine years later, he joined the British East India Company ( 1747), and was appointed commodore of its marine forces four years later.

He is particularly associated with an action on 2 April 1755 when, commanding the Bombay Marine Ship Protector he attacked and destroyed the fortress of the notorious Moorish pirateThis article is about sea pirates. For other uses see Pirate (disambiguation A pirate is one who robs or plunders at sea without a commission from a recognised sovereign nation. Pirates usually target other ships, but have also attacked targets on shore. Tollagee Angria at ? Severndroog ? (an English representation of the latter part of Janjeera Soowumdroog), in Concan , along the western coast of IndiaThe Republic of India is a large multicultural country in South Asia, with a population of over one billion. The Indian economy is the fourth largest in the world, in terms of purchasing power parity, and is the world's second-fastest growing economy., between MumbaiThis article is about the city formerly known as Bombay. For other uses of this word, see Bombay (disambiguation Mumbai (renamed from Bombay in 1995) is the world's most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. and GoaGoa ( is India's smallest state in terms of area and the second smallest in terms of population. Goa is internationally renowned for its fabled tropical beaches and world heritage architecture. A former colony of Portugal, parts of it were ruled by the Po. (He had initially been instructed only to blockade the stronghold, but through his intimate knowledge of the rocky coastline was able to get close enough to blow up the fortress. Although the East India Company had spent considerable sums providing protection from piracy, he only received £100 in reward).

In February 1756Events March 17 St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in New York City for the first time (at the Crown and Thistle Tavern). May 15 Seven Years' War: The war begins when England declares war on France. August 29 Frederick the Great attacks Saxony October 1 Seve, he supported the capture of Geriah by Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Watson, and was active in numerous skirmishes against the French, helping to consolidate the British position in India.

He returned to England in 1759Events January 11 In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first American life insurance company is incorporated. January 13 The Tavora family is executed following the accusation of attempted regicide on Joseph I of Portugal January 15 The British Museum opens, settling in Eltham in south-east London, and later became chairman of the directors of the East India Company, a governor of Greenwich Hospital and a fellow of the Royal Society for his contribution to navigation. Created a baronet in 1778, he died of a stroke at his daughter's wedding in 1783, and, the following year, a folly, Severndroog Castle (designed by East India Company architect Richard Jupp), was built as a memorial to him by his wife, Lady James of Eltham, on nearby Shooter's Hill in south-east London.