James King (Royal Navy officer)
| James King | |
|---|---|
Captain James King, 1782 by John Webber
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| Born | 1750 Clitheroe, Lancashire, Great Britain |
| Died | 16 November 1784 Nice, France |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1762–1784 |
| Rank | Post captain |
| Commands held |
HMS Discovery HMS Crocodile HMS Resistance |
| Battles/wars | |
James King FRS (1750 – 16 November 1784) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served under James Cook on his last voyage around the world, specialising in taking important astronomical readings using a sextant. After Cook died he helped lead the ships on the remainder of their course, also completing Cook's account of the voyage. He continued his career in the Navy, reaching the rank of post-captain, commanding several ships and serving in the American War of Independence.
King was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, in 1750, the son of James King, who was at that time curate of St Mary Magdalene, Clitheroe. According to the parish registers young James King was baptised on 13 July 1750, presumably shortly after his birth. At an early age King entered Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, where he remained until he was 12 years old.
King entered the navy on 19 November 1762 under the patronage of his kinsman William Norton, serving under him first in HMS Assistance as an able seaman, although in fact he was treated as a junior officer, and then as a midshipman in the William and Mary. After further service as an able seaman or midshipman in HMS Gibraltar and HMS Liverpool, King joined HMS Guernsey, Captain James Chads, on 15 March 1768 as an able seaman for service on the Newfoundland station under Hugh Palliser, a commordore and friend and patron of James Cook, a captain who was surveying the Newfoundland coast at the time. King then served aboard HMS Alarm in the Mediterranean under Captain John Jervis.
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