# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Loveless, James

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​LOVELESS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 21; h-p., 22.)
James Loveless was born 12 Nov. 1791, at Portsmouth.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Nov. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the St. George 98, Capts. Hon. Mich. De Courcy, Thos. Bertie, and Edw. Sneyd Clay; in which ship he went, as Midshipman, to the West. Indies in pursuit of a French squadron, and on his return to Europe, after having been all but lost in a hurricane, was employed, until July, 1808, on the Channel station. While attached, from the latter date until March, 1811, to the Tonnant 80, commanded during that period by various officers, he assisted in embarking the army after the battle of Corunna, was engaged in numerous cutting-out affairs under the enemy’s batteries on the coast of France, twice returned to Plymouth in the capacity of Prize-Master, served for a month on board the Nettuno Spanish block-ship at the siege of Cadiz (where he nearly lost his right eye by the bursting of a shell while voluntarily assisting on shore at the defence of Fort Matagorda, and where he was afterwards employed in a gun-boat), and had charge, we believe, of the ship’s pinnace in the river Tagus for about two months prior to the departure of the French from Santarem. After serving for nine months, as Master’s Mate, in the Vestal troop-ship, Capts. Maurice Fred. Fitzhardinge Berkeley and Sam. Bartlett Deeckar (by the former of whom he was recommended for promotion, and on one occasion sent in charge of an American brig into Portsmouth), and for a short period, as a Supernumerary, in the Royal William, Capt. Robt. Hall, Mr. Loveless, in Feb. 1812, joined the Vigo 74, Capts. Henry Manaton Ommanney and Thos. White. During the period of his stay in that ship we find him escorting a Russian squadron to England; and, on his return to the Baltic, intrusted with the personal conveyance of despatches from Malmo to Gottenborg. Previously to quitting her in April, 1813, he joined, further, in an attack on Elsineur castle, and accompanied an immense fleet of merchantmen through the Sound. He then returned to England on board the Courageux 74, Capt. Philip Wilkinson; and was next, from June, 1813, until Sept. 1814, actively employed in the Albion and Sceptre 74’s, Capts. John Ferris Devonshire and Wm. Waller, chiefly on the North American station, where he assisted in blockading the U.S. frigate President in Rhode Island, and was again invested with the charge of a captured vessel. At the period of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 8 Feb. 1815, Mr. Loveless had been for upwards of four months a Supernumerary of the Namur 74, guard-ship at the Nore. His next appointment being, 13 Aug. 1827, to the Ramillies Coast Blockade ship, Capt. Hugh Pigot, he was allowed, until paid off in March, 1830, to command the Antelope tender, for the purpose of raising volunteers for the service, and for the suppression of smuggling. He rejoined the Blockade Service 26 Nov. 1830, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant, for a few months, of the Talavera 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot; and, with the omission of an interval between Oct. 1839 and April, 1842, has been employed in the Coast Guard since 26 Aug. 1834.
Lieut. Loveless married, first, in Oct. 1815, Miss Osborn, of Deptford, who died in Jan. 1829; and, secondly, Mrs. Quik, widow, of Gloucester. By his former marriage he has issue a son and two daughters.