James Macnamara

{{Short description|Royal Navy officer (1768–1826)}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = [[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] |name =James Macnamara |image =Admiral James McNamara.jpg |caption = |birth_date = 1768 |death_date = 15 January 1826 |birth_place =[[County Clare]], [[Ireland]] |death_place =[[Clifton, Bristol|Clifton]], [[Bristol]], [[England]] |burial_place = |burial_label = |burial_coordinates =  |nickname = |birth_name = |allegiance =[[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] |branch =[[Royal Navy]] |service_years =1782 – 1826 |rank =[[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] |service_number = |unit = |commands ={{HMS|Bombay Castle|1782|6}} {{HMS|Southampton|1757|6}} {{HMS|Cerberus|1794|6}} {{HMS|Dictator|1783|6}} {{HMS|Edgar|1779|6}} {{HMS|Berwick|1809|6}} |battles = {{tree list}} * [[American Revolutionary War]] ** [[Battle of Cuddalore (1783)|Battle of Cuddalore]] * [[French Revolutionary Wars]] ** [[Siege of Toulon]] ** Capture of {{ship||Utile|1784 ship|2}} ** [[Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797)|Battle of Cape St Vincent]] * [[Napoleonic Wars]] {{tree list/end}} |battles_label = |awards = |relations = |other_work = |signature = }} [[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] '''James Macnamara''' (1768 – 15 January 1826) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] who served during the [[American War of Independence]] and the [[French Revolutionary Wars|French Revolutionary]] and [[Napoleonic Wars]].

Born into a naval family, Macnamara served in the [[East Indies]] during the last years of the American War of Independence, seeing action with [[Edward Hughes (Royal Navy officer)|Hughes]] at the [[Battle of Cuddalore (1783)|Battle of Cuddalore]]. He received the acting rank of lieutenant during this time, but reverted to [[midshipman]] afterwards. He returned to naval service during the [[Spanish armament|Spanish]] and [[Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)|Russian armaments]], and was serving with [[Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood|Lord Hood]] aboard {{HMS|Victory}} on the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. He saw action in the Mediterranean and was eventually promoted to his own commands. He achieved success as a daring frigate captain, serving with [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelson]] and making several hard-fought captures. He finished his service in the Mediterranean with action at the [[Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797)|Battle of Cape St Vincent]], and later served in the [[West Indies]] before the [[Peace of Amiens]].

Macnamara found himself in trouble with the law after killing a man in a [[duel]], but summoned a bevy of naval officers to testify in his defence, and was acquitted. He commanded a number of [[ships of the line]] in the following years, in the [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]], [[North Sea]] and off of the French coast. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1814, but did not receive a seagoing command. He married in 1818 and died in 1826, having served with prominent naval officers like Hood, [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent|Jervis]] and Nelson in a long and distinguished career.

== Family and early life == [[File:Combat naval en rade de Gondelour, 20 juin 1783.jpg|thumb|right|Depiction of the [[Battle of Cuddalore (1783)|Battle of Cuddalore]], by Auguste Jugelet, 1836.]] Macnamara was born into a naval family in 1768 in [[County Clare]], son of Michael Macnamara and Bridget Waters, and entered the navy in 1782 aboard the 80-gun {{HMS|Gibraltar|1780|6}}.<ref name="Marshall685">{{cite book |last=Marshall|title=Royal Naval Biography|page=685}}</ref> ''Gibraltar'' went out that year to the [[East Indies]], flying the [[broad pennant]] of [[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] [[Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet|Sir Richard Bickerton]].<ref name="Tracy235">{{cite book |last=Tracy |title=Who's Who in Nelson's Navy |page=235}}</ref><ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB |chapter=Macnamara, James (1768–1826)|chapter-url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/17708?docPos=1|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |year = 2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/17708|last1 = Laughton|first1 = J. K.|editor1-first = Andrew|editor1-last = Lambert}}</ref> On his arrival he was transferred to the 74-gun {{HMS|Superb|1760|6}}, the [[flagship]] of the station commander, [[Edward Hughes (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Edward Hughes]]. Macnamara saw action at the [[Battle of Cuddalore (1783)|Battle of Cuddalore]] on 20 June 1783 against [[Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez|M. de Suffren]], in which battle ''Superb'' sustained losses of 12 men killed and 41 wounded.<ref name="Marshall685"/> He was then given an acting rank of lieutenant aboard the 68-gun {{HMS|Monarca|1780|6}} and returned to England with her.<ref name="Tracy235"/> He then reverted to the rank of [[midshipman]] and served aboard the 50-gun {{HMS|Europa|1783|6}} at [[Jamaica]]. ''Europa'' was at the time the flagship of Admiral [[Alexander Innes]].<ref name="Marshall685"/><ref name="ODNB"/> After some years in this position, he received his lieutenant's commission on 1 December 1788 and went on to serve during the [[Spanish armament]] in 1789 and the [[Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)|Russian armament]] in 1791. He was first aboard the 74-gun {{HMS|Excellent|1787|6}} under Captain [[John Gell (Royal Navy officer)|John Gell]], later following him to the 100-gun {{HMS|Victory}}, flying the flag of Admiral [[Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood|Lord Hood]].<ref name="Marshall685"/><ref name="Tracy235"/><ref name="ODNB"/>

== French Revolutionary Wars == Macnamara continued to serve with Hood aboard ''Victory'' after the outbreak of war with [[Revolutionary France]] in 1793. He took part in the [[Siege of Toulon|occupation of Toulon]] and was promoted by Hood to the rank of master and commander on 22 October 1793, at about the time of the evacuation of the port.<ref name="Marshall685"/><ref name="Tracy235"/> He was appointed acting captain of the 74-gun {{HMS|Bombay Castle|1782|6}}, followed by the 32-gun {{HMS|Southampton|1757|6}}.<ref name="Tracy235"/><ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Winfield175">{{cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817|page=175}}</ref> Despite these commands an official mistake meant that his commission as [[post captain]] was dated 6 October 1795.<ref name="Tracy235"/> ''Southampton'' was assigned to a squadron commanded by Commodore [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Horatio Nelson]], supporting the Austrian army in [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]].<ref name="Marshall685"/><ref name="Tracy235"/>

=== Command of ''Southampton'' === Macnamara then spent 15 days in September 1795 blockading a French grain convoy in the port of [[Genoa]]. The convoy was protected by two frigates, the [[French frigate Vestale (1780)|''Vestale'']] and the [[French frigate Brun|''Brun'']].<ref name="Campbell190">{{cite book |last=Campbell |title=The naval history of Great Britain |page=190}}</ref> The French finally came out on the evening of the fifteenth day, and were engaged by ''Southampton'', despite the French possessing considerably more firepower.<ref name="Campbell190"/> After a sustained engagement ''Southampton'' forced ''Vestale'' to [[striking the colours|strike her colours]] while the ''Brun'' escaped with the convoy, leaving ''Vestale'' to her fate.<ref name="Campbell190"/> But as ''Southampton'' prepared to lower her boats to take possession of the French ship, her foremast, which had been damaged during the engagement, went by the board.<ref name="Campbell190"/> Taking advantage of this, ''Vestale'' raised her colours and escaped from the scene.<ref name="Campbell190"/>

Macnamara had another chance to distinguish himself, when on 9 June 1796 a French [[corvette]] was sighted entering [[Hyères]] bay, and Vice-Admiral [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent|Sir John Jervis]], commander of the [[Mediterranean Fleet (United Kingdom)|Mediterranean Fleet]], summoned Macnamara to his [[flagship]], HMS ''Victory''.<ref name="Campbell190"/> He asked Macnamara to bring out the French ship if he could. Recognising the difficulty and risk that would be involved, he did not make it a formal written order, instead instructing Macnamara 'bring out the enemy's ship if you can; I'll give you no written order; but I direct you to take care of the king's ship under your command.'<ref name="Campbell191">{{cite book |last=Campbell |title=The Naval History of Great Britain |page=191}}</ref> Macnamara promptly took his ship in under the guns of the batteries, and apparently having been mistaken for a French or neutral frigate, closed to within pistol shot of the French ship, and demanded her captain surrender.<ref name="Campbell191"/> The captain replied with a broadside, and Macnamara brought ''Southampton'' alongside and sent his first lieutenant, [[Charles Lydiard]], over in command of the boarders. After subduing fierce resistance Lydiard took possession of the French ship and together he and Macnamara escaped out to sea under heavy fire from the French shore batteries.<ref name="Campbell191"/> Macnamara reported his triumph to Jervis {{Blockquote|Sir, in obedience to the orders I received from you on the ''Victory''{{'}}s quarter-deck last evening, I pushed through the Grande Passe, and hauled up under the batteries on the N.E. of Porguerol with an easy sail, in hopes that I should be taken for a French or neutral frigate, which I have great reason to believe succeeded, as I got within pistol-shot of the enemy's ship before I was discovered, and cautioned the Captain through a trumpet not to make a fruitless resistance, when he immediately snapped his pistol at me, and fired a broadside. At this period, being very near the heavy battery of Fort Breganson, I laid him instantly onboard, and Lieutenant Lydiard, at the head of the boarders, with an intrepidity that no words can describe entered and carried her in about ten minutes, although he met with a spirited resistance from the captain (who fell) and a hundred men under arms to receive him ... After lashing the two ships together, I found some difficulty in getting from under the battery, which kept up a very heavy fire, and was not able to return through the Grande Passe before half after one o'clock this morning...|J. Macnamara|<ref name="Campbell191"/>}} [[Image:The Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797 RMG BHC0486.jpg|thumb|right|''The Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797'' by [[Robert Cleveley]]]] The prize, a 24-gun [[corvette]] named {{ship||Utile|1784 ship|2}}, was taken into service with the Royal Navy as HMS ''Utile'' and Lydiard was promoted and given command of her, a commission confirmed on 22 July 1796.<ref name="Tracy231">{{cite book |last=Tracy |title=Who's Who in Nelson's Navy |page=231}}</ref><ref name="Winfield214">{{cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817|page=214}}</ref>{{Ref label|A|a|none}} Macnamara's later service with Nelson included the capture of [[Portoferraio]], the evacuations of [[Caprera]] and [[Corsica]], and expeditions against [[Piombino]] and [[Castiglione Chiavarese|Castiglione]].<ref name="Tracy2362">{{cite book |last=Tracy |title=Who's Who in Nelson's Navy |page=236}}</ref><ref name="Marshall687">{{cite book |last=Marshall|title=Royal Naval Biography|page=687}}</ref> Macnamara had already developed a reputation for intrepidity bordering on recklessness, and he displayed these qualities again in an attack on the 18-gun Spanish [[brig]] ''Corso'' in a strong gale under enemy shore batteries.<ref name="Marshall687"/> The first attempt to capture her failed, with only one man, the [[coxswain]], getting on board. Macnamara tried again, managing to place 30 men aboard the Spanish ship, at which she surrendered.<ref name="Marshall687"/> Having done so the weather prevented any further attempt to make contact with the prize.<ref name="Marshall687"/> One of Macnamara's last acts in support of the Mediterranean Fleet was to take part in the [[Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797)|Battle of Cape St Vincent]] on 14 February 1797, in which ''Southampton'' formed part of the centre of the [[line of battle|line]] as a [[Frigate#Age of sail|repeating frigate]].<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Tracy2362"/>

=== Captain of ''Cerberus'' === ''Southampton'' returned to Britain within a few months of the battle, and Macnamara was appointed to command the 32-gun {{HMS|Cerberus|1794|6}}, initially on the Irish station.<ref name="Tracy2362"/><ref name="Marshall688">{{cite book |last=Marshall|title=Royal Naval Biography|page=688}}</ref> During his time there he captured the 10-gun French [[privateer]] ''Echange'', and on 20 October 1799 came across a convoy of Spanish merchantmen escorted by five frigates and two brigs. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority Macnamara attacked and captured one of the frigates, but was forced to abandon his prize after the other Spanish frigates came to her defence.<ref name="Marshall688"/> He also captured a merchant ship, and having taken her men off, burnt her. ''Cerberus'' sustained minor damage during the engagement, and had only four men wounded. The [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] showed their approval of Macnamara's actions by promoting his first lieutenant.<ref name="Marshall688"/> Macnamara was then sent out to the [[West Indies]], where he cruised off [[Jamaica]] and [[Captaincy General of Santo Domingo|San Domingo]] until the [[Peace of Amiens]]. ''Cerberus'' was then paid off in February 1803, and Macnamara went ashore.<ref name="Tracy2362"/>

== Duel == While ashore, Macnamara became embroiled in a [[duel]]. While walking his [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]] dog, Lion, in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] on 6 April 1803 he had an altercation with Colonel Robert Montgomery, when their dogs began fighting.<ref name="ODNB2">{{cite ODNB|chapter=Macnamara, James (1768–1826)|chapter-url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/17708?docPos=1|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/17708|last1=Laughton|first1=J. K.|editor1-first=Andrew|editor1-last=Lambert}}</ref><ref name="Tracy2362"/><ref name="Marshall6882">{{cite book |last=Marshall |title=Royal Naval Biography |page=688}}</ref> Harsh words were exchanged, and the two parties fought a duel that evening at [[Chalk Farm]]. Both men were wounded, the colonel mortally. Macnamara was arrested on a charge of [[manslaughter]] and put on trial at the [[Old Bailey]] on 22 April.<ref name="Marshall6892">{{cite book |last=Marshall |title=Royal Naval Biography |page=689}}</ref> Macnamara defended himself from the charge on the grounds that he had received an affront and that it was necessary for him to challenge it in order to maintain his position as a naval officer. He summoned many of his naval friends, among whom Viscounts Hood and Nelson, [[William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham|Lord Hotham]], [[Hyde Parker (admiral)|Sir Hyde Parker]], [[Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet|Sir Thomas Troubridge]], Captains [[George Martin (Royal Navy officer)|Martin]], [[George Henry Towry|Towry]], Lydiard, [[Graham Moore (Royal Navy officer)|Moore]] and [[Robert Otway|Waller]]; and General Churchill and [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto|Lord Minto]], to testify in his defence.<ref name="Marshall6892" /> They supported his assertion that he was the 'reverse of quarrelsome' and the jury took ten minutes to acquit him.<ref name="Tracy2362" /><ref name="Marshall6892" />

The following letter, addressed to his brother John at Llangoed Castle, gives details of the encounter and its cause.

{{Blockquote|{{Right|Thursday}} My dear Brother.—Ere this reaches you the news of the unfortunate business between Colonel Montgomery and me, yesterday, will be known to your part of the world. The unfortunate but mistaken man brought it upon himself, as you will find by the following details. Yesterday, riding in the park with John, accompanied by Captain Barrie, whom you know, Colonel Montgomery’s dog attacked Lion, who, not being perfectly patient of insults, attacked in his turn; on which the Colonel got off his horse and in a violent passion said that he would knock the dog down whomsoever he belonged to. I told him the dog was mine. He then answered he did not care to whom the dog belonged, and answered me in the most arrogant and authoritative manner imaginable to call my dog off immediately. Not being used to such manners or language, I civilly, but with an impressive manner, told him that I saw no reason why he should dictate to me or address me (Captain Macnamara) with violence; that in a public ride such as Hyde Park no man could be answerable for what his dog did to another; and that all the gentlemen present (of whom there were many about us) must be astonished at his improper and arrogant conduct. The Colonel then frequently and loudly repeated that I knew where to find him if I felt myself offended. I remonstrated, but he continued, “ You know where to find me,” accompanied with look and manner so very contemptuous that I decided at once. I spoke to Captain Barrie who rode up to the Colonel. I left choice of time, place, and weapons to the Colonel, who took out his watch with an air of great ''sans froid'', and said in two hours’ time (it being then five o’clock) he would meet me on Primrose Hill, with pistols, saying all gentlemen fought with these weapons. I immediately despatched John, for Mr. Heavyside, and Barrie to Cooper’s for pistols, and we were all in less than an hour on Primrose Hill, where we waited a long time. Sir W. Ker the other friend, wanted to defer it. I would not, as I only obeyed the call; it must go on. Poor Montgomery arrived at last, but with a different mien to what I saw him in two hours before. The ground was measured; to level together and fire when we liked. He fired first, and wounded me; I fired afterwards, fatally, as the ball passed through his heart. I can write no more of this melancholy subject. {{Right|J. Macnamara.}} I forgot to tell you that John<ref group="note">Captain Macnamara's nephew.</ref> was present the whole time; his conduct I shall never forget, manly and decided, with great sensibility, more than belongs to his years.}}

== Napoleonic Wars == Macnamara returned to service with the resumption of the wars with France and took command of the 64-gun {{HMS|Dictator|1783|6}} in June 1805 for service in the [[North Sea]].<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Tracy2362"/><ref name="Marshall6892"/><ref name="Winfield91">{{cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817|page=91}}</ref> He commanded her for two years on this station before taking command of the 74-gun {{HMS|Edgar|1779|6}}.<ref name="Winfield49">{{cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817|page=49}}</ref> Macnamara served with the Baltic Fleet under [[Richard Goodwin Keats|Sir Richard Goodwin Keats]] in the [[Great Belt]] in 1808. During this service, he took command of a squadron of [[gunboat]]s and attacked a Danish brig and [[cutter (boat)|cutter]] off [[Nyborg]]. In a fierce attack, in which seven Danes were killed and thirteen wounded to one British officer killed and two seamen wounded; both Danish ships were captured. They were found to be the 18-gun [[HMS Fama (1808)|''Fama'']] and the 12-gun [[HMS Salorman (1808)|''Salorman'']].<ref name="Marshall691">{{cite book |last=Marshall|title=Royal Naval Biography|page=691}}</ref> Macnamara was then appointed to the 74-gun {{HMS|Berwick|1809|6}} in 1809.<ref name="Winfield89">{{cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817|page=89}}</ref> This service took him back to the North Sea and then the coast of France. While commanding a small squadron blockading [[Cherbourg]] on 24 March 1811, he chased the French frigate [[French frigate Amazone (1807)|''Amazone'']] off [[Barfleur]], [[Action of 24 March 1811|attacking]] the French ship and forcing her crew to abandon and burn her.<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Marshall691"/>

== Flag rank and later life == Macnamara was promoted to rear admiral on 4 June 1814, but never had an active command.<ref name="Tracy2362"/> He married Henrietta, the widow of Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. George Carleton, on 26 January 1818.<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Tracy2362"/>{{Ref label|B|b|none}} Rear-Admiral James Macnamara died at [[Clifton, Bristol|Clifton]], [[Bristol]], on 15 January 1826 at the age of 57.<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="Tracy2362"/>

== Notes == {{reflist|group="note"}} {{refbegin}} '''a.''' {{Note label|A|a|none}} Lydiard went on to achieve considerable success in his own right, until his death in the wreck of {{HMS|Anson|1781|6}} in 1807.<ref name="Tracy231"/>

'''b.''' {{Note label|B|b|none}} George Carleton was the son of [[Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester]]. George had been killed at the [[Siege of Bergen op Zoom (1814)|siege of Bergen op Zoom]] in 1814.<ref name="ODNB"/> {{refend}}

== Citations == {{Reflist}}

== References == {{refbegin}}

*{{cite book| last =Campbell| first = John|author2=Stockdale, John Joseph | year = 1818| title =The Naval History of Great Britain: Commencing with the Earliest Period of History, and Continued to the Expedition against Algiers, Under the Command of Lord Exmouth, in 1816. Including the History and Lives of British Admirals| publisher = Baldwyn and co.|location=London| volume = 8}} *{{cite ODNB |first=J. K. |last=Laughton|editor1-first=Andrew|editor1-last=Lambert|author-link=John Knox Laughton|chapter=Macnamara, James (1768–1826)|chapter-url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/17708?docPos=1|title=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]] |year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/17708 |location=Oxford}} *{{cite book| last =Marshall| first = John| year = 1823| title =Royal Naval Biography : Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired-captains, Post-captains, and Commanders, Whose Names Appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea Officers at the Commencement of the Present Year, Or who Have Since Been Promoted, Illustrated by a Series of Historical and Explanatory Notes ... with Copious Addenda| publisher = Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown|location=London| volume = 1}} *{{cite book |first=Nicholas|last=Tracy|title=Who's Who in Nelson's Navy: 200 Naval Heroes|year=2006|publisher=Chatham Publishing|location=London|isbn=1-86176-244-5}} *{{cite book |first=Rif|last=Winfield|title=[[British Warships in the Age of Sail|British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates]]|publisher=Seaforth|year=2007|isbn=978-1-86176-246-7}} {{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macnamara, James}} [[Category:1768 births]] [[Category:1826 deaths]] [[Category:Royal Navy rear admirals]] [[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the American Revolutionary War]] [[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars]] [[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Napoleonic Wars]] [[Category:Military personnel from County Clare]] [[Category:British duellists]]