Gordon Bremer

Sir James John Gordon Bremer KCB KCH (26 September 1786 – 14 February 1850) was a British Royal Navy officer.

In 1794 at around 12 years old he joined the Royal Navy as a first-class volunteer on board HMS Sandwich, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge, at the Nore, from which he was discharged in June 1795.

On 8 October 1797, he became a student of the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth, and re-embarked on 2 April 1802 as a midshipman on board HMS Endymion under Captain Philip Durham.

Until July 1805, Bremer served in the flagship of Vice-Admiral James Gambier and Rear-Admiral Edward Thornbrough, HMS Isis, on the Newfoundland and North Sea stations.

On 3 August 1805, he became a lieutenant on board HMS Captain as part of William Cornwallis' force pursuing a French fleet at Brest.

[3] On 9 May 1806, Bremer was appointed to HMS Diana commanded by Captain Thomas James Maling in the Mediterranean Station, from where he proceeded to the Davis Strait.

[5] On 24 August 1824, he left Port Jackson, Sydney,[6] on board Tamar, accompanied by Countess of Harcourt and Lady Nelson.

[7] On 26 September, the party landed at King Cove in Melville Island to build a settlement, which was named Fort Dundas on 21 October.

Under the encouragement of New South Wales Governor George Gipps, Bremer left Port Essington for China in June 1839, with the ships under his command, after news of trouble in the Chinese city of Canton.

[20] For his services, Bremer received a vote of thanks from both houses of parliament,[3] and on 29 July, he was made a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath (KCB).

[2] On 30 April 1846, Bremer was appointed, jointly with Sir Francis Augustus Collier, to the command of the Channel Squadron,[3] with his broad pennant on board HMS Queen.

[2] On 27 March 1811, Bremer married Harriet, daughter of Royal Marines officer Thomas Wheeler and widow of Reverend George Glasse.

Bremer (left of centre) on board HMS Wellesley with Chinese officials on 4 July 1840, a day before the capture of Chusan