James Vashon

Admiral James Vashon was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service during the Seven Years War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was first captain of HMS Dreadnought, between 1801 and 1802. Previously, he had commanded Alert , Europa , and Formidable.

James Vashon was born onAugust 1742 in the village of Eye, near Leominster, Herefordshire. He was the son of the Vicar of Eye, the Reverend James Volant Vashon. The family was descended from Peter Vashon, a Huguenot apothecary c. 1636, who had immigrated from Paris. The family name is of French origins and became English. James Vashon entered the Royal Navy at age thirteen, in 1755, and first served aboard the 28gun frigate HMS160Revenge under Captain Cornwall. As a midshipman he served on a number of vessels and saw combat service in the Mediterranean, the coast of North America, and in the Caribbean. In 1763 he passed his examination for lieutenant, but continued to serve as a midshipman until 1772 for lack of a lieutenants posting. Vashon was serving on HMS160Quebec when the Seven Years War ended and went ashore on halfpay until 1774 when the Navy began rearming for the approaching American War of Independence.

Source: Wikipedia