Commodore Sir William James, 1st Baronet, FRS was a Welsh-born commander of the East India Company navy, director of the Company and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1783. He conducted successful campaigns against the navies of Indian territories.
James is particularly associated with an action on 2 April 1755 when, commanding the Bombay Marine Ship Protector he attacked and destroyed the fortress of Tulaji Angre, at Severndroog, in Konkan, along the western coast of India, between Mumbai and Goa. He had initially been instructed only to blockade the stronghold, but through his intimate knowledge of the rocky coastline was able to get close enough to blow up the fortress. Although the East India Company had spent considerable sums providing protection from piracy, he only received £100 in reward. In February 1756, he supported the capture of Gheriah by Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson, and was active in numerous skirmishes against the French, helping to consolidate the British position in India.
Later life
James returned to England in 1759, settling in Eltham in north-west Kent. In 1765, he married his second wife, Anne Goddard, with whom he had two children: Edward and Elizabeth. He became a Director of the East India Company in 1768 was reappointed in most years until his death in 1783. He was frequently deputy chairman and was chairman of the directors in 1779. He was a governor of Greenwich Hospital and a fellow of the Royal Society for his contribution to navigation. In 1778 he was created baronet. James became an associate of Lord Sandwich and through him became involved in politics. In 1770 he stood for Parliament at Shoreham, but was defeated overwhelmingly. At the 1774 general election he was returned unopposed at West Looe on the Buller interest. He was returned again unopposed for West Looe at the 1780 general election by John Buller, with whom he also stood unsuccessfully at Saltash. As an associate of Sandwich he supported Lord North until his fall from power in 1782. James came under personal attack when a report from the select committee on Bengal affairs was put before the House on 1 April 1783. This alleged that James and Laurence Sulivan had altered the records of the East India Company and tried to deceive the committee about communications with India. James maintained that the charges were false and opposed any publication of the report without a defence. James died of a stroke at his daughter Elizabeth Anne's wedding to Thomas Parkyns, 1st Baron RancliffeMP on 16 December 1783. He was buried at Eltham and the following year a folly, Severndroog Castle, was built as a memorial to him by his wife, Lady James of Eltham, on nearby Shooter's Hill. His title passed to his son Edward William and became extinct on the latter's own death.
