Wishart, James
| Dates | 1688-1723 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | London; Bedale | ||
| Vocation | Sailor | ||
| Place of Birth | Linlithgow | ||
| Marriage | Cordelia | ||
| Issue | |||
| Place of birth | Source | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
Served in Dutch navy, but returned to British Isles with William of Orange's invasion (1688). Given command of the "Pearl" (1689), and successively commanded the "Mary Galley", "Oxford", "Swiftsure", "Salisbury", "Queen", "Dorsetshire" and "Eagle" and "Royal Katherine", as well as a number of guardships. Promoted rear-admiral after initially being overlooked, and knighted (1704). Out of favour (1705-1710), although appointed admiral of the blue, but joined Admiralty Commission (1710) and made special commissioner to the Netherlands (1711). MR for Portsmouth (1711-1715). Promoted admiral of the white (1713). Commanded Mediterranean fleet (1714-1715). Forced into retirement after accession of George I due to suspicions of Jacobitism (1715).
On his return Wishart's tory politics and the lingering suspicions of Jacobitism put paid to any further chance of employment under George I. He lived in retirement, partly on the estate at Bedale in Yorkshire referred to by Rooke in 1703, and partly at Chelsea; however, after his death on 31 May 1723, after a long period of ill health, he was buried on 5 June in Leatherhead parish church, Surrey. His brother and heir, William, erected a memorial to him there. His wife, Cordelia, survived him and was the main beneficiary of his will, dated 13 May 1723. Wishart also made bequests to a number of nephews and nieces, and stipulated that anyone inheriting any of his lands in the future had to take the surname of Wishart.
