# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Philips, James Robert

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​PHILIPS. (Rear-Admiral of the Red, 1841. f-p., 17; h-p., 45.)
James Robert Philips, a native of Scarborough, is son of the late Mr. Alex. Philips, Master R.N.; and brother of Major John Alex. Philips, of the Royal Marines, who, prior to joining that service, served as Midshipman of the Belleisle 74 in the action off Cape Trafalgar.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 Oct. 1785, as A.B., on board the Resolution, Capt. Israel Pellew, with whom he was for two years employed on the coast of Ireland. Between 1789 and April, 1796, he served on the Home and West India stations in the Swallow sloop, Capts. Wm. Hargood and Jas. Bissett, Inconstant 36, Capt. Geo. Wilson, Camel store-ship, commanded by his father, Cambridge 74, Capt. Rich. Boger, Sampson 64, Capt. Robt. Montagu, Bellona 74, Capt. Geo. Wilson, Woolwich 44, Capt. Wm. Chas. Fahie, and Majestic 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Laforey. Of the latter ship he was created a Lieutenant 10 Dec. 1795. He had previously, in 1794, when Midshipman of the Bellona, assisted at the defence of Fort Matilda, Guadeloupe. On leaving the Majestic, as above, he joined the Beaulieu 40, Capts. Lancelot Skynner and Fras. Fayerman; during his servitude in which ship we find him employed on shore at the capture of Ste. Lucie in May, 1796, and present, 11 Oct. 1797, in the action off Camperdown. At the close of that conflict Lieut. Philips took charge of the Mounikendam a Dutch 40; wherein he had the misfortune to be wrecked on a sand near West Capel. He fell, on the occasion, into the hands of the enemy, and remained for some time in captivity. On his restoration to liberty he went back to the Beaulieu, and proceeded in her to the Mediterranean. Invaliding thence in March, 1800, he joined, in the following July, the Princess Royal 98, flagship in the Channel of Sir Erasmus Gower, with whom he remained until April, 1802. His next appointments were – 19 July, 1803, and 30 July, 1804, to the Russell 74, Capt. Robt. Williams, and Centurion 50, Capts. Jas. Lind and John Sprat Rainier. In the latter ship, of which he was First-Lieutenant, he assisted, 18 Sept. 1804, in gallantly beating off, in Vizagapatam Roads, a French squadron, by whom she had been vigorously attacked, consisting of the Marengo 80, bearing the flag of Admiral Linois, and 40-gun frigates Atalante and Sémillante. At the commencement of the action, which was long maintained, Mr. Philips, owing to the absence of his Captain, was in sole command of the Centurion. “I had been on shore,” says Capt. Lind at the beginning of his official narrative addressed to Vice-Admiral Rainier, “and was not present in the early part of the action, for, till now, the Centurion had been under the direction of the First-Lieutenant, Mr. Jas. Robt. Philips; and before I proceed any further in this account, permit me to notice the judicious conduct of this deserving and old officer, and his gallant defence of the ship against so superior a force as that of the enemy. I hope. Sir, his conduct will be thought worthy of a reward, and that he will be esteemed deserving of promotion.” He was, in consequence, advanced to the rank of Commander 15 March, 1805; and on 28 May, 1806, he was appointed to the Bonetta 14, and ordered, until the arrival of that vessel in port, to act as Commander of the Gannet 16. Joining the Bonetta in the following June, he was employed, during the remainder of the year, in escorting merchantmen to and from the German rivers, and in 1807 in affording protection to the trade in the Baltic; where he took part, under Admiral Gambier, in the operations against Copenhagen. He attained Post-rank 13 Oct. 1807; and has since been on half-pay. His promotion to Flag-rank took place 23 Nov. 1841.