James O'Brien, 3rd Marquess of Thomond

As a captain's servant, he entered the navy on 17 April 1783 on board {{HMS|Hebe|1782|6}}, stationed in the Channel. From 1786 to 1789 he was a midshipman in the 74-gun Pegasus and the 32-gun {{HMS|Andromeda|1784|6}} frigate, both commanded by the Duke of Clarence, under whom he also served with the Channel fleet in {{HMS|Valiant|1759|6}} in 1790. As a lieutenant he joined, in succession, on the home station, second-rate {{HMS|London|1766|6}}, the 38-gun fifth-rate {{HMS|Artois|1794|6}}, and the 74-gun {{HMS|Brunswick|1790|6}}. In the latter ship he was present in William Cornwallis' celebrated retreat, 16 and 17 June 1795. On 5 December 1796 he was promoted to the command of the 14-gun sloop {{HMS|Childers|1778|6}}. From 1800 to 1804 he commanded {{HMS|Emerald|1795|2}} on the West Indies station, where, on 24 June 1803, he made a prize of L'Enfant Prodigue, a French national schooner of sixteen guns, and in the spring of 1804 distinguished himself in forwarding the supplies at the capture of Surinam, as well as by defeating a projected expedition by the enemy against Antigua.

On 29 November 1809 he was granted a Royal Warrant of Precedence as if his father had succeeded to the marquisate of Thomond, and was henceforth known as Lord James O'Brien.{{London Gazette|issue=16320|page=1910|date=28 November 1809}} From September 1813 until November 1815, he served in the English Channel in {{HMS|Warspite|1807|6}}. He became a rear-admiral in 1825, a vice-admiral in 1837, a full admiral on 13 May 1847, and an Admiral of the Red in 1853. On the accession of William IV, he was made a lord of the bedchamber, and nominated G.C.H. on 13 May 1831. He succeeded his brother, William O'Brien, on 21 August 1846 as the third Marquess of Thomond.

He retired to Bath where he became an important figure in local society. Amongst other appointments he was Chairman of the Ball Committee, Chairman of the Trustees of Bath Savings Bank, a member of the prestigious York Club and a Steward of the Club's Annual Ball.Records of the Bath and County Club, Guildhall Archives, Bath

He died at his residence in Bath (20 Royal Crescent) on 3 July 1855, and was buried in the catacombs of St. Saviour's Church, Walcot, Bath, on 10 July.Bath Burial Index

He married, first, on 25 November 1800, Eliza Bridgman, second daughter of James Willyams of Carnanton, Cornwall (she died on 14 February 1802); secondly, in 1806, while in the West Indies, Jane, daughter of Thomas Ottley, and widow of Valentine Horne Horsford of Antigua (she died on 8 September 1843); and, thirdly, on 5 January 1847, at Bath, Anne, sister of Sir C. W. Flint, and widow of Rear-Admiral Francis William Fane.

O'Brien left no issue, and the marquessate of Thomond and the earldom of Inchiquin became extinct, but the barony of Inchiquin devolved to the heir male, Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bt, who became thirteenth Baron Inchiquin on 3 July 1855.

• {{cite wikisource |first=William Richard |last=O'Byrne |chapter=Thomond, James |title=A Naval Biographical Dictionary |year=1849 |publisher=John Murray}}

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• {{DNB|wstitle=O'Brien, James (1769-1856)}}

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{{S-ttl| title=Earl of Inchiquin | years=1846–1855}}

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{{S-ttl| title=Baron Inchiquin | years=1846–1855}}

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Category:1769 births

Category:1855 deaths

Category:Royal Navy admirals

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Napoleonic Wars

James

Category:18th-century Irish people

Category:19th-century Irish people

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Category:Irish chiefs of the name