James Lind

Captain Sir James Lind ( – 12 June 1823) was a Royal Navy officer who served in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The son of James Lind, a distinguished naval physician, Lind also embarked on a career at sea, but served in a more front line role. After serving on a number of different ships he finally received his own command in 1800, but his first chance to show his ability came only in 1803 when in command of . Here he captured a French privateer after his imitation of a merchant ship encouraged the privateer to actually attack his heavily armed frigate. He then revealed the true nature of his ship and the hapless privateer had no choice but to swiftly surrender.

Promoted to command the 50-gun Lind had another opportunity to distinguish himself, when the convoy under his protection was attacked in the harbour of Visakhapatnam by a heavily armed French squadron under Rear-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois. Despite being on shore at the time Lind hurried back to take command and supervise operations to resist the French, who though were able to capture one of the merchants, decided not to risk pressing the attack on the Centurion and withdrew. The survival of the Centurion in the face of overwhelming forces was hailed as a great achievement back home in Britain, with Lind being knighted for his efforts.

Family and early life

Sir James was the son of James Lind, who was at that time the physician of the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar and a pioneer into the use of lemon juice as a treatment for scurvy. His mother was Isabel Lind, née Dickie. Sir James was also a cousin to James Lind who was the Royal physician to King George III and a distinguished multidisciplinary natural philosopher. Sir James's grandfather was likewise named James Lind.

He embarked on a naval career, joining Captain Samuel Thompson's 54-gun on 1 August 1765.

East Indies The Wilhelmina was part of a force despatched under Sir Home Popham to pass through the Red Sea and attack the French in Egypt. After this operation Lind remained in the East Indies, transferring to the 44-gun on 16 March 1803. He was promoted to post-captain on 6 March 1804, taking command of the Sheerness. On 5 May 1804 the 14-gun French privateer Alfred spotted the Sheerness, but mistaking her for a merchant, closed on her. Realising his opponent's mistake Lind pretended to make an attempt to escape, imitating the actions of a merchant ship. Unbeknownst to Linois, Rainier had decided to upgrade the convoy's escort and replaced the Wilhelmina with the 50-gun , placing Lind in temporary command, as Centurions nominal commander Captain John Spratt Rainier had been taken ill. Lind took command on 9 September, but had gone ashore during a stop at Visakhapatnam when Linois's forces, consisting of the 74-gun Marengo and the frigates Sémillante and Atalante appeared on 18 September. While Lind was thus occupied, the second frigate, Sémillante evaded Centurion and took possession of one of the East Indiamen, sailing her out of the harbour. The British had lost both merchants, one to the French, while the other had been run aground and wrecked to prevent her capture. Lind returned to Britain and received a knighthood on 5 April 1805 for his services. He was awarded a Lloyd's Patriotic Fund presentation sword of £100 value.

Later life Lind appears to have retired from active service after this. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 2 January 1815, and died on 12 June 1823 at Southampton.