James Vashon - French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

In late 1786 Vashon was recalled to service and took command of the 50-gun HMS Europa, where serving under him were Midshipmen James Baker and Peter Puget, and Lieutenant George Vancouver, who would become significant in future explorations of the area of Washington State. Vashon commanded a series of ships during the period from 1789 to 1804 including the 64-gun ships HMS Ardent, HMS St Albans, HMS Dreadnought, and the 80-gun HMS Pompee. It was during this period that George Vancouver commanded the Pacific Northwest expedition that bears his name and during which Vancouver named a number of prominent features of the Northwest after his colleagues and friends in the Royal Navy. On 28 May 1792 Vancouver named Vashon's Island in honour of Captain Vashon. In 1842 Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition named Maury Island as a separate island and the usage began to change to Vashon Island.

In April 1804 Vashon was promoted to Rear-Admiral in command of the naval squadron at Leith, Scotland with his flag aboard HMS Roebuck. He instituted a formal convoy system out of Leith to protect this vital shipping route, and was so successful that he was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1808. When Vashon decided to retire in late 1808, the merchants and leaders of Leith were so pleased that they gave him a public dinner, awarded him two commemorative plates, and honoured him as a Freeman of the City of Edinburgh.