James Cranstoun, 8th Lord Cranstoun

Biographical Summary

"James, eighth Lord Cranstoun, baptized at Crailing 26 June 1755, had the rank of lieutenant in the royal navy, 19 October 1776, captain 31 January 1782. In command of the Bellequieux of sixty-four guns, and afterwards of the Formidable, he distinguished himself in the engagements with De Grasse off St. Christopher in 1782, and was sent home by Lord Rodney with despatches announcing the victory in which that admiral paid high tribute to Lord Cranstoun's gallant behaviour. He commanded the Bellerophon, in Admiral Cornwallis's squadron, 17 June 1795, when with five ships of the line and two frigates he maintained an attack on the French fleet of thirteen ships of the line, seven frigates and other vessels, and obliged them to give way after a running fight of twelve hours, wherein eight ships of the line were so shattered that they could engage no longer. For this action he received the thanks of Parliament 17 November 1795. In 1796 he was appointed Governor of Grenada and vice-admiral of that island, but before taking up his post he died at Bishops Waltham in Hampshire, 22 September 1796, in the forty-second year of his age, being accidentally poisoned, and was buried in the garrison chapel at Portsmouth. He married at Darnhall, 19 August 1792, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Charles Montolieu, sister of Lady Elibank, but had no issue, and was succeeded by his nephew. Lady Cranstoun died at Bath 27 August 1797, aged twenty-seven."

SOURCE: The Scots peerage, Vol. II, page 600