A member of a substantial naval dynasty, he eventually rose to the rank of vice admiral, but is chiefly remembered for his engagement with the American frigate USS Constitution which saw the loss of his ship, HMS Guerriere.

[1] James Richard Dacres entered the navy in 1796 at the age of eight, serving aboard his father's old ship, the 64-gun HMS Sceptre, as a first class volunteer.

[2] He was next reported aboard the 38-gun frigate HMS Boadicea, serving in the English Channel under Captain John Maitland.

[3] On 24 July 1803 the French 74-gun third-rate Duguay-Trouin and the 38-gun frigate Guerrière were sighted sailing off Ferrol, Spain.

[4][5] Maitland decided to test whether the French ships were armed en flûte and were being used as troopships, and closing to within range, opened fire.

[3][6] He then fell in with Captain William Furlong Wise of Mediator and together they navigated the waters around Samana and planned an attack on the fort there, which was a notorious haven for privateers.

Broke's squadron consisted of the 64-gun ship of the line HMS Africa and the frigates Shannon, Aeolus, Belvidera and Guerriere.

[8] Dacres briefly became separated from Broke's squadron, and while returning to them on 17 August came across the USS Constitution, under Captain Isaac Hull.

The range eventually decreased and after a brief close exchange the Guerriere's mizzenmast was shot away, allowing the Constitution to rake her several times, causing considerable damage, before the two ships became entangled.

[11] During the engagement Dacres had been wounded by a musket-ball in the back while on the starboard forecastle, but had refused to leave the deck.

[3][6] Dacres continued to serve in the navy after his acquittal, and was appointed to the new 38-gun frigate HMS Tiber on 23 July 1814.

[3] He became a rear-admiral on 28 June 1838, and commander-in-chief of the Cape of Good Hope Station on 9 August 1845, which was his last active employment.

[19] One son, also called James Richard Dacres, died at Mozambique at the age of 37 on 14 February 1848, while in command of the sloop HMS Nimrod.