James Wishart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir James Wishart
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James Wishart by Michael Dahl
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| Born | 1659 |
| Died | 1723 |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of England |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Pearl HMS Mary Galley HMS Swiftsure Mediterranean Fleet |
| Battles/wars | War of the Spanish Succession |
Sir James Wishart (born 1659, died 1723) was a brave Scottish admiral in the Royal Navy. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth. Admiral Wishart fought in important battles like the Battle of Cadiz and the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702. He also helped capture Gibraltar.
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James Wishart was born in 1659. His father, William Wishart, was the head of Edinburgh University. James was not the oldest son in his family.
He started his naval career in the Dutch navy. Some say he even commanded a Dutch ship. James returned to Great Britain with William of Orange. Because of his loyalty, he was rewarded.
Becoming a Captain
In 1689, James Wishart became a captain of HMS Pearl. Later, he commanded another ship called HMS Mary Galley. He then became captain of HMS Swiftsure.
He became a favorite of Admiral Sir George Rooke. In 1695, Wishart became Rooke's flag captain on HMS Queen. A flag captain is the captain of the ship where an admiral sails.
Key Battles and Promotions
Wishart took part in several important naval battles. He fought at the Battle of Cadiz and the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702. These were big victories for the British navy.
Capturing Gibraltar
In 1703-1704, Wishart was with Sir George Rooke during the Capture of Gibraltar. This was a very important event. Gibraltar is a strategic location at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1704, Admiral Rooke was upset. Another officer, William Whetstone, was promoted to rear-admiral before Wishart. Rooke felt this was unfair. He thought it might be because Wishart was Scottish. Rooke protested strongly.
Because of Rooke's protest, Wishart was also promoted to rear-admiral. His promotion was even dated back to the same day as Whetstone's. This showed how much Rooke valued Wishart.
Later Career and Challenges
Later that year, Rooke and Wishart were in the Mediterranean. When Wishart returned home, he was given a special honor: he became a knight. This meant he was called "Sir James Wishart."
However, their success did not last long. Both Rooke and Wishart lost their positions the next year. Wishart was put on "half pay," meaning he received only half his usual salary.
His career improved in 1710. He became an Admiralty Lord. This meant he was part of the group that managed the Royal Navy.
Political Life and Final Years
Sir James Wishart tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth in 1710. He lost that election. However, he successfully challenged the result and became an MP in 1711. He served in Parliament until 1715.
Wishart was sent to The Hague to try and get the Dutch to join an alliance against the French. This mission was not successful.
His last naval role was as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. He took over this important command in December 1713.
When George I of Great Britain became king, Wishart lost his main naval command. He died on May 30, 1723, and had no children. At the time of his death, he was an Admiral of the White Squadron.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sir James Wishart married Cordelia Raper. She was from Bedale, North Yorkshire. They lived in Portsmouth. They did not have any children.
Wishart left a large amount of money, £20,000, to his wife. His will said that anyone who inherited his land or money had to take his last name, Wishart. The money eventually went to his nephew, William Wishart. This nephew also became the head of Edinburgh University.
There is a memorial for Sir James Wishart. It was put up by his brother, William, in the Church of St. Mary & St. Nicholas, Leatherhead. The memorial has a good story about his life and models of ships.
His Portrait and a Ship
A famous artist named Michael Dahl painted a portrait of Sir James Wishart.
The Royal Navy named a ship after him. It was a destroyer called HMS Wishart (D67). This ship was in service from 1920 to 1945. Lord Louis Mountbatten was once the commanding officer of HMS Wishart. He even made a joke to inspire his crew, saying the ship had the best name in the navy: "Our Father Wishart in Heaven..."
See also
In Spanish: James Wishart para niños
