James Alms

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James Alms, an 18th-century captain in the Royal Navy, was a native of Gosport, in the county of Hants. During his early services in the subordinate ranks, he had often been engaged with the enemy; and in 1749, he was one of the fortunate few saved out of the Namur, when that ship was wrecked on the coast of Coromandel. Although, as master and commander, he had signalized himself in several battles between single ships, still it was not till 1765 that he attained the rank of post-captain.^[1]

His conduct when in the command of the Monmouth sixty-four, in Sir Edward Hughes's severe struggle with the celebrated Suffren, off Trincomalee (coincidentally, on the same day Rodney had achieved his victory in the West Indies, 12th April, 1782), has been held in high esteem. On this day, he was second to Sir Edward. At one point in the action, Alms perceiving that Suffren had put up his helm with a view of boarding the British chief, luffed his ship into the "very eye of the wind," threw into the Frenchman's bows a raking broadside, and frustrated the enemy's daring plan. Subsequently to this manoeuvre, the Monmouth had to sustain a terrific fire from Suffren and his two seconds, which continued until the main and mizzen-masts of the former fell over the side. The British colors had already been twice shot away, but they were now nailed to the stump of the mizzen-mast, with Alms's direction, "never to be struck."^[1]

In this furious—though undecided—contest, the Monmouth had seven guns dismounted,—the wheel twice cleared,—and two seamen only, besides the captain, left alive on the quarter-deck. Forty-five men were killed, and one hundred and two wounded. Alms himself received two splinter-wounds in the face, and two musket-balls went through his hat. His son, who was serving as lieutenant of the Superb, the flag-ship of Sir Edward Hughes, died early in the action.^[1]