James Alms - Command

Command

Alms spent a number of years ashore after this, living with his family at Chichester. Through the interest of George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, he was given command of HMS Montreal in the Mediterranean in 1770, commanding her for three years. He became captain regulating the impress service for the Sussex district in 1776, but severe asthma prevented him accepting any more active service until September 1780, when he was appointed to command the 64-gun HMS Monmouth. He went out to the East Indies again with a squadron under Commodore George Johnstone, becoming involved on the way in the Battle of Porto Praya on 16 April 1781, against the Bailli de Suffren. After arriving at the Cape of Good Hope, Johnstone put Alms in command of the reinforcements and East India ships bound for India. Alms struggled with adverse winds and high incidences of sickness, eventually forcing him to leave the troopships on the coast of Arabia in order to bring his warships to reach India in time for the campaigning season.

The British fleet rendezvoused with Sir Edward Hughes at Madras on 11 February 1782, and Alms went on to be involved in a number of indecisive clashes between Hughes and the Bailli de Suffren; at Sadras on 17 February, Providien on 12 April, Negapatam on 6 July, and Trincomalee on 3 September 1782. It was at Providien on 12 April 1782 that he particularly distinguished himself.