James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier
Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier, GCB (13 October 1756 – 19 April 1833) was a Royal Navy officer. After seeing action at the capture of Charleston during the American Revolutionary War, he saw action again, as captain of the third-rate HMS Defence, at the battle of the Glorious First of June in 1794, during the French Revolutionary Wars, gaining the distinction of commanding the first ship to break through the enemy line.
The Right Honourable The Lord Gambier | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 October 1756 New Providence, The Bahamas |
| Died | 19 April 1833 (aged 76) Iver, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Buried | St. Peter's churchyard in Iver |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1767–1833 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | HMS Thunder HMS Raleigh HMS Endymion HMS Defence |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Gambier went on to be a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and First Naval Lord and then served as Governor of Newfoundland. Together with General Lord Cathcart, he oversaw the bombardment of Copenhagen during the Napoleonic Wars. He later survived an accusation of cowardice for his inaction at the Battle of the Basque Roads.