James Robert Drummond

Admiral Sir James Robert Drummond (1812-1895) was a British naval officer, who was captain of HMS "Retribution", HMS "Tribune", and HMS "Albion" as part of the Mediterranean/Black Sea Fleet during the Crimean War, and who as an admiral commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from 13 January 1874 to 15 January 1877. He was a Commissioners of the Admiralty as Fourth Naval Lord from 8 March 1858 to 28 January 1859, and from 15 June 1861 to 13 July 1866.

Family

The Hon. James Robert Drummond was born on 15 September 1812, the second of the eight children of James Andrew John Laurence Charles Drummond, 8th Viscount Strahallan and Lady Amelia Sophia Drummond (nee Murray). [http://www.thepeerage.com/p3059.htm The Peerage.Com]
[http://www.stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/dd/drummond03.htm Drummond family] ]

Drummond married Catherine Francis Elliot, daughter of Admiral Sir George Elliott and Eliza Cecilia Ness, on 5 February 1856. They had one child, Laurence George Drummond, who was born on 13 March 1861.

Admiral Drummond died on 7 October 1895 aged 83. His wife Catherine died on 20 April 1914.

Career

Drummond joined the Royal Navy on 2 February 1826. He was promoted to lieutenant on 27 December 1832, and to commander on 9 June 1838. [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=32 James Robert Drummond on-line biography.] ]

From 18 December 1841 to 1845 Commander Drummond was captain of the 18-gun sailing sloop "Scout". The "Scout" served in the Mediterranean. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2042 HMS Scout] ] On 8 June 1846 he was promoted to captain.

On 10 June 1852, Drummond was appointed captain of the 1st-Class wooden paddle-frigate "Retribution", which had 10-guns and also served in the Mediterranean. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1982 HMS Retribution] ] During his captainancy, the "Retribution" participated in the first bombardment of Sevastapol on 17 October 1854 during the Crimean War. During the bombardment, "Retribution" towed or was coupled broadside to the 120-gun sailing line-of-battle ship "Trafalgar". "Retribution" at this time was listed as having 28 guns. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/Russia2.htm Account of Naval Operations in the Russian War.] ]

On 11 December 1854, Drummond was appointed captain of the 31-gun wooden screw-corvette "Tribune", serving in the Mediterranean/Black Sea Fleet, during the Crimean War. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=97 HMS Tribune] ]

On 7 July 1855, Drummond was appointed captain of the 2nd rate, 2-decker 90-gun sail line-of-battle ship "Albion", serving in the Mediterranean/Black Sea Fleet, during the Crimean War. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=11 HMS Albion] ]

From 7 March 1856 to 21 August 1856 he was Captain of the "Victory", flagship of Vice-Admiral George Francis Seymour, Portsmouth. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2249 HMS Victory] ]

On 2 December 1856, Drummond was appointed captain of the 5th-rate 44-gun sailing frigate "Maeander", for coast guard service. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1716 HMS Meander] ]

He was Fourth Naval Lord from 8 March 1858 to 28 January 1859. [List of Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty] Whilst there, on 20 December 1858 he was appointed as Commodore in "Fisgard", as Commander-in-Chief, Woolwich. "Fishguard" was an old 5th-rate 46-gun sailing frigate, which had been hulked in 1847. [p119 Lyon, David, "The Sailing Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy - Built, Purchased and Captured - 1688-1850", pub Conway, 1993. ISBN 0-85177-617-5 ] Drummond's appointment as Commodore in "Fisguard", as Commander-in-Chief, Woolwich may have lasted until 18 February 1863 when Captain Frederick Archibald Campbell was appointed captain of "Fisguard". [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1451 HMS Fisguard] ]

Captain Drummond was again Fourth Naval Lord from 15 June 1861 to 13 July 1866, and was promoted to Rear Admiral on 11 January 1864. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=32 James Robert Drummond on-line biography] which says 15 June 1861 to 9 May 1866.
List of Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the dates in the latter have been preferred.
[http://www.stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/dd/drummond03.htm Drummond family] ]

He was awarded the Knight Commander of the Bath on 24 May 1873, and was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 2 June 1877.

He commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from 13 January 1874 to 15 January 1877. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowCommanders.php Principal Royal Navy Commanders-in-Chief 1830-1899] ] His flagship was initially the "Lord Warden" and later "Hercules".

He was promoted to Admiral on 22 January 1877, and retired on 16 September 1877, the day after his 65th birthday. He was awarded the G.C.B. (Knight Grand Cross of the Bath) on 23 April 1880.

References

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