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The Monument to Admiral James Charles Prevost RN

by John MacFarlane 2017

Monument plaque

The Monument to Admiral James Charles Prevost RN (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

There is a simple plaque on the sea wall of the inner harbour at Victoria BC commemorating this naval officer.

In 1810 he was born at Bedhampton, Hampshire, UK. He entered the Royal Navy in 1823. He was appointed as a Lieutenant RN in 1835. He was appointed as a Commander RN in 1845. He served in H.M.S. Portland on the Pacific Station in 1850. He served in H.M.S. Virago (In command) at Valparaiso Chile 1852. He was appointed as a Captain RN in 1854. He served in H.M.S. Satellite (In command) in 1856. He was also appointed as the First British Commissioner for the San Juan Boundary Dispute to determine the water boundary between the United States and British Columbia and Vancouver Island. He was appointed as the Superintendent and Naval Officer–in–Charge of the Naval Establishment at Gibraltar 1865–1870. He was appointed as a Rear–Admiral (Retired) RN in 1869. He was appointed as a Vice–Admiral (Retired) RN in 1876. He was appointed as an Admiral (Retired) RN in 1880. In 1891 he died at London UK.

Prevost Island in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia and other geographical names on it, or nearby, (e.g. James Bay and Charles Rocks), were named for him. Mount Prevost, near Duncan, and Prevost Hill, a landmark on Ten Mile Point at Cadboro Bay, British Columbia are also named for him.

He was the nephew of Governor–General Lieutenant–General George James Marc Prevost, (1767–1816), Commander of British Forces in North America during the War of 1812. He married Ellen Moresby the daughter of Rear–Admiral Fairfax Moresby RN. He was the father of Captain James C. Prevost (a sealing Master based in Victoria BC).

His last name was pronounced "Pree–voh"


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John M. (2017) The Monument to Admiral James Charles Prevost RN. Nauticapedia.ca 2017. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Monument_Admiral_Prevost.php

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