James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez

Admiral of the Red James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez, GCB (11 March 1757 – 9 October 1836) was a Royal Navy officer known for his victory at the Second Battle of Algeciras.

Saumarez was born at Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, to an old island family, the eldest son of Matthew de Sausmarez (1718–1778) and his second wife Carteret, daughter of James Le Marchant. He was a nephew of Captain Philip Saumarez and John de Sausmarez (1706–1774) of Sausmarez Manor. He was also the elder brother of General Sir Thomas Saumarez (1760–1845), Equerry and Groom of the Chamber to the Duke of Kent, and afterwards Commander-in-Chief of New Brunswick and of Richard Saumarez (1764–1835), a surgeon and medical author. Their sister married Henry Brock, the uncle of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock and Daniel de Lisle Brock. Many of de Sausmarez's ancestors had distinguished themselves in the naval service, and he entered it as midshipman at the age of thirteen. Upon joining the Navy, he dropped the second 's' to become de Saumarez.

In 1767, Saumarez was entered as a volunteer on the books of HMS Solebay although he never set foot in the ship, studying at a school near London until in 1770, Saumarez joined the Montreal in the Mediterranean. Placed on board HMS Winchelsea, he was rated midshipman in November 1770. A transfer to HMS Levant in February 1772 until she returned to Spithead in 1775 gave an opportunity to take his examination for lieutenant.

In 1775, at the age of 18, Saumarez was ordered to Sir Peter Parker's flagship HMS Bristol in North America. Saumarez distinguished himself under Parker, showing courage and being promoted to acting lieutenant at the July 1776 Battle of Sullivan's Island which required the Bristol to fire broadsides at Fort Sullivan. The engagement lasted 13 hours and 111 men were killed in the Bristol.

Saumarez moved to HMS Chatham as temporary 5th lieutenant. He received his first command, the tender Lady Parker. On promotion to lieutenant in 1778 he received his second command, the 8-gun galley Spitfire. After forty-seven engagements, unfortunately he had to run Spitfire ashore and burn her on 30 July 1778 when a French fleet under Admiral d'Estaing arrived at Narrangansett Bay. Saumarez then served on land at the Battle of Rhode Island before returning to Portsmouth.

Saumarez next served as third lieutenant in HMS Victory, under various admirals until it became Vice Admiral Hyde Parker's flagship, by which time he had moved up to 1st lieutenant. He moved with the Admiral to HMS Fortitude, in which he was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 5 August 1781, when he was wounded. He was promoted commander and appointed to the fireship Tisiphone. In 1782, Saumarez sailed his ship to the West Indies with despatches for Samuel Hood and arrived in time to witness the closing stages of Hood's operations at St Kitts on 25 January 1782.

While commanding HMS Russell (74 guns), Saumarez contributed to Rodney's victory over de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782. During the battle and on his own initiative, Saumarez took his ship out of line to assist in the capture of de Grasse's flagship, Ville de Paris. This action prompted Admiral Rodney to remark that, "The Russell's captain is a fine fellow, whoever he is."

When the war in America was finished, Saumarez went ashore and did not go to sea again until 1793 when he was given command of the frigate HMS Crescent, a 36-gun fifth rate frigate.