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Note: CAPTAIN JAMES JOHN CHARLES AGASSIZ, R.N. James John Charles Agassiz was third son of David Louis Agassiz, of Margate. He was born 8th March 1772, and baptized on 15th April at St. Helen's Church, Bishopgate, London. At an early age he entered the Royal Navy, in which he served with considerable distinction. The following account of his services is taken from A Naval Biographical Dictionary, by Wiiliam R. O'Byrne, published in 1849:-
"James John Charles Agassiz. entered the Navy as midshipman on the frigate 'Lowestoft', Captain Edm. Dod, October, 1787. Quitting that ship in September, 1790, he next, in August, 1793, became attached to the 'Mentor, Lieutenant-Commander Richard Welland. On 23rd September, 1795, he was promoted from the 'Atlas", 98, Captain E. Dod, to a 1ieutenancy in the 'Trident', 64, Captain Edw. Oliver Osborn, and in that ship was present at the surrender of the Dutch squadron in Saldanha Bay, near Cape of Good Hope, 17th August, 1796. He afterwards in succession joined the 'Dortrecht,' 64, Captain Gardner; 'Tromp,' Captain Billy Douglas; ' Triumph,' 74, Caprtain William Essington; 'Rite,' sloop, Captain Chas. Lydiard; 'Resolu- tion', 74, Captain William Mitchell; and 'Hound,' Captain George Sarradine. On the 21st August, 1804, we find him, in conjunction with Lieutenant Henry le Viscont commanding the boats of the latter sloop and of a squadron, and acquiring the praise of Lord Nelson for his gallantry and zeal at the capture and destruction, with but trifling loss to the British, of 6 gun vessels, which had been driven on shore near St. Valery, and were protected by the fre of a body of military and five field pieces. After eight months' command of the 'Bold', gun-brig, in the Downs, and off Boulogne, Mr. Agassiz was promoted to the rank of Commander, by commission dated 29th Apirl, 1802. His next and last appointments were, 6th September, 1804, and 22nd January, 1806, to the 'Anacreon', defence ship, and 'Rattler,' sloop, in which latter vessel he appears to have been escorting convoys to and from Newfoundland and the Wetern Islands, until placed on half pay in October, 1809. He retired, with the rank of Captain, 10th September, 1840:"
Lord Nelson's report of the boat action of 21st August, 1801, conducted under the orders of Lieutenant J. J. C. Agassiz, is printed in the London Gazette for August, 1801, page 1036, and is as follows:-
Admiralty Office, London, August 25th, 1801. Copy of a letter from Lord Viscount Nelson K.B., Vice-Admiral of the Blue, to Evan Nepean, Esquire, dated Downs, the 23rd instant. Sir. Herewith I transmit you a letter which I have received from Captain Rose, giving me an account of the boats of the several vessels under his orders having burnt a quantity of pitch, tar and turpentine, destroyed three gun boats, taken two launches, a flat boat about forty-five feet long, and eighteen to twenty feet wide, mounted with one brass eight-inch howitzer; this boat sunk astern of the "Hound." The business on the part of our boats was conducted with much spirit; and much praise is due LieutenantAgassiz of the "Hound," and Lieutenant le Viscont, of the "Jamaica," for their brave example on this occasion.
I have the honor to be, etc., Nelson and Bronte. The following is Captain Rose's letter to Lord Nelson:-
The "Jamaica," At Sea, 21st August, 1801. My Lord, I beg leave to acquaint you, that yesterday evening, at eight o'clock, being at anchor off Estaples, I observed a large fire to the S.S.E: and at the same time a very heavv cannonade. I immediately got under weigh with the vessels under my orders, and ran down to it. About ten I spoke Captain Sarradine, of the " Hound," who informed me that the fire proceeded from a cargo of pitch and tar, belonging to a vessel wrecked on the coast some time ago. which the boats of the " Houlnd " and " Mallard " had set fire to; and that six flat boats had come out of Saint Vallery that afternoon, which he forced on shore, and then lay hauled upon the beach. I accordingly this morning sent the [boats of the] " Jamaica, " " Gannet," and " Hound," together with those of the gun brigs, and endeavoured to cut them out, under the direction of Lieutenant James Agassiz of the "Hound"; at the same time standing in with different vessels, in order to cover the boats from the fire of the military and of five field pieces posted behind the snd hills on shore. I am happy to acquaint your Lordship that they succeeded in bringing off three; the others had been previously scuttled, so as to render it impossible to remove them; however, the boats damaged them as much as time would admit of.. . I cannot sufficiently praise the gallantry and zeal of Lieutenant Agassiz, of the " Hound," and Lieutenant le Viscont, of the " Jamaiica," with the officers and men employed on this service. Annexed I transmit a list of our loss, and have the honor to be, etc., Jonas Rose. Tlle following was the list of killed and wounded:- " Jamaica,"-Daniel Brockelsby, seaman, killed. " Gannet."-William Warren, seaman, wounded. " Hound."-Thomas Hamblin, midshipman, wounded. " Tygress."-Anthony Judd, seaman, wounded. " Mallard."-John Buck, seaman, wounded. Copies of Lord Nelson's and Captain Rose's despatches are in the Morn- ing Chronicle of 26th August, 1801,. An account of the action is given in the Morning Post of 25th August, 1801, where it forms the leading article. Nelson's and Rose's despatche are in the issue of the following day. The capture of the gun boats and their arrival in the Downs is recorded in The Times of 26th August 1801. The Morning Post article of 25th August, 1801, reads:- " On Saturday morning Lord Nelson sailed from the Downs with the part of his fleet there stationed He stood to the Northward, for Margate Roads, as some conjectured, but rather, we believe, for the coasts of Holland and Flanders, perhaps for Bologne again, as it will be seen from his General Orders that he pledges himself to annihilate the whole of the enemy's flotilla. His fleet were in sight at three o clock on Sunday, apparently shaping their course N.E. He has fire ships with him, and will probably attempt to burn the enemy's vessels. It is necessarv they should not continue their hostile movements with impunity. Last week thirty-five vessels escaped from Dunkirk into Calais, destined, we presume, to join "the advance guard " at Boulogne; and yesterday advice vras received of the arrival in the Downs of the "Jamaica" frigate with the agreeable intelligence of her having,, in the evening of the 21st inst., fallen in with several French gun- boalts, of St. Vallery, which he immediately attacked. She sulcceeded in sinking three, and capturing the same number; one of which sunk soon after it w7as taken. In was reported at Deal that this flotilla was bound to Boulogne from Dieppe. They were close into the shore, anld covered with the enemy's artillely, notwithstanding which, our gallant seamen put them to the rout."
The Morning Post for 26th August, 1801, says:- "The quantity of pitch and tar burned was between 200 and 300 barrels."
It appears, from the papers of that date, that a ship loaded with naval stores was driven ashore while trying to escape the British fleet and was captured by our boats, commanded by Lieutenant Agassiz who, being unable to refloat the ship, set her on fire. Captain Agassiz was three times married. First at Sidmouth, Devonshire, on l3th March, 1792, to Ann Snaith. I know nothing of this marriage except what can be learnt from a copy of the register, which I have recently obtained. It gives the names of the contracting parties and of the witnesses, who were John McAllum, Jane Smith and Sarah Smith. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. William Jenkins M.A., Vicar. I believe that. Miss Smith belonged to Exeter. Her children were: Lewis. born at Exeter, 18th March, 1793. Eleanor, born at Exmouth, 15th February 1795. Died at Hadleigh, 30th March, 1811. Buried at Layham Suffolk. Mrs. Ann Agassiz died at Exmouth, 27th February, 1795. Her death was caused through her boy Lewis falling into a pond, and on being hrought into her bedroom, where she was in bed with her newly born baby, Eleanor. being put into bed with her, at her request, to warm him, the weather, being very cold, by which she took a chill and died in a few hours. She was buried at Heavitree Exeter, 3rd March, 1795. Captain Agassiz married secondly at Fleggburgh, near Yarmouth on 22nd, August. 1799 Eliza Alured. She was born 25th September, 1774. Her family name is mentioned in the charters relating to tthe Priory of Sepringham under date A.D. 1160. (See The Genealogist, by Harwood, Vols. 15 16 and 17.) It also appears in a charter granting certain lands to Croyland Abbey. about 1141. also in Domesday Book. See English Surnames, by C. W. Bards1ey. The will of John Alured, of Beverley, York, is in Foster's Collectanea Genealogica, dated 16th November, 1668. Constant reference to the family may be found in the private papers of the Duke of Rutland, the Marquis of Salisbury, Earl Couper, etc., etc., printed copies of which may be found in the British Museum Library. Foster's list of Members of Parliament, part of his Collectanea Genealogica, says:-
" Thomas Alured was Member of Parliament for Kingston-upon-Hull in 1558. John Alured represented the same place inParliament in 1584-7. Another John Alured was M.P. for Hedon from 1640 to 1653."
Captain Agassiz's children by his second wife were: James David, born at Durdam Downs, Bristol, 5th January, 1801. Henry Garrett, born at Gorleston, near Yarmouth, 23rd August, 1802. Died 31st May, 1803, and was buried at Norwich. Louisa Frances, born at Cotton, Norfolk, 19th February, 1804. Died at Exeter, 5th November, 1835. Buried at Milverton, Somersetshire. ( See Gentleman's Magazine for December 1835. Mary, born at Caister, near Yarmouth, 30th June, 1805. Died at the same place 9th November, 1805. Buried at Fleggburgh. Mrs. Eliza Agassiz died 28th March, 1827. Captain Agassiz married thirdly Jane Prince, a widow, at Wellington, Somersetshire, 9th Oetober, 1828. She died without issue 4th December, 1871.
He died at Exeter, 16th December, 1857, and was buried at Milverton, Somersetshire. In the church there is a tablet erected to him and his wife, which reads:-
" To the memories of Captain James John Charles Agassiz. R.N., who diecl 16th December, 1857, aged 84. " And. his widow, Jane Agassiz, who died 4th December, 1871, aged about 90."
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