serviceyears branch commands relations death_place death_date birth_place allegiance nationality birth_date placeofburial rank article_title name
1737 -- 1789 kingdom of great britain salamander dunkirk 1651 6 jason 1747 6 newark 1695 6 intrepid 1730 1747 6 burford 1757 6 mars 1759 6 6 namur 1697 6 kennington 1736 6 james -rrb- young -lrb- son -rrb- william young -lrb- son london , england 24 january 1789 london , england kingdom of great britain british 15 november 1717 st anne 's church , soho admiral of the white james young -lrb- 1717 -- 1789 -rrb-
 james young
james young -lrb- 1717 -- 1789 -rrb-

james young -lrb- 15 november 1717 -- 24 january 1789 -rrb- was an officer of the royal navy who saw service during the war of the austrian succession , the seven years ' war and the american war of independence , rising to the rank of admiral of the white .
young entered the navy as a midshipman and went out to the mediterranean , where he would rise through the ranks during a long and extended cruise , which saw him serve on a number of different vessels .
a captain by the end of the war of the austrian succession , a fact that led to the caustic comment that he had been `` midshipman , lieutenant , and captain in one voyage '' , he continued in active service after the war .
he commanded several more ships during the seven years ' war , and was one of those engaged at the controversial battle of minorca in 1756 .
the fleet 's commander , admiral john byng , was court martialled over the affair , young giving evidence at the inquiry gave some damming evidence against byng .
young also played a role in the more creditable performance at the battle of quiberon bay in 1759 , flying a broad pennant as a commodore , and participating in the decisive defeat of the french fleet .
he went on to command several squadrons on the french coast , before his promotion to flag rank .
young was back in active service during the american war of independence , with the important posting as commander in chief of the leeward islands station .
he acted to secure british trade from american warships and privateers , but was less successful at intercepting supplies of weapons and gunpowder being provided to the american rebels by the nominally neutral dutch and french possessions in the caribbean .
his frustration mounted , especially after the dutch island of st eustatius fired the first salute to the american flag in 1776 .
he left the post in 1778 , returning to england , where he entered retirement and died in 1789 .
he left a family , including two sons , william and james , who also became prominent naval officers .
