Years of service 1844 - 1875 | Name James Goodenough | |
 | ||
Commands held HMS VictoriaHMS MinotaurAustralia Station (1873–1875) Died August 20, 1875, Australia Awards Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George | ||
Commodore James Graham Goodenough CB CMG (3 December 1830 – 20 August 1875) was an officer in the Royal Navy who went to become Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station.
Contents
Early life and family
He was born at Stoke Hill near Guildford in Surrey, the son of Edmund Goodenough, Dean of Wells Cathedral and Frances Cockerell. His paternal grandfather was Samuel Goodenough, Bishop of Carlisle and his godfather was Sir James Graham, after whom he was named. He was educated at Westminster School.
In 1864 he married Victoria Hamilton; they had two sons.
Naval career
At 14 years of age Goodenough joined the Royal Navy. He firstly (1844–1848) served on HMS Collingwood under Captain Robert Smart in the Pacific fleet of Admiral Sir George Francis Seymour. He then joined HMS Cyclops off coast of Africa, before returning to England late in 1849 to sit his lieutenant's exam.
He went on to serve in the Second Opium War being present at the capture of Canton in 1857. Promoted to Captain in 1863, he was given command of HMS Victoria and then HMS Minotaur. He served as Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station from 1873.
He died of tetanus aboard HMS Pearl off the coast of Australia, resulting from wounds inflicted from poisoned arrows in an attack by natives of the Santa Cruz Islands. He is buried in St Thomas's Church in North Sydney. Some sources state his burial location at St Leonards Cemetery in north Sydney.
Memorials
A stained glass window, Adoration of the Lamb, in St Thomas's Church in North Sydney, is dedicated in his memory and a bust, sculptured by Count Gleichen, was placed in the Painted Hall of Greenwich Hospital. A memorial was also constructed in North Sydney (St Thomas's Church?). See the following:
