Francis James Adam

Francis James Adam, part-owner of Nismes estate in British Guiana, for whom his brother Rear Admiral Sir Charles Adam (q.v.) claimed compensation as his executor.

1. Born 24/03/1791 and baptised 06/05/1791 in Mortlake, Surrey, son of William Adam (1751–1839), of Blairadam, Kinross, and of Eleanora (1749–1808), daughter of the tenth Lord Elphinstone. Brother of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Adam (q.v.).

2. Memorial inscription in Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh: "FRANCIS, THE FIFTH AND YOUNGEST SON OF THE LORD CHIEF COMMISSIONER, WAS A MERCHANT IN LONDON. ACTUATED BY A HIGH SENSE OF HONOUR, HE UNDERTOOK A VOYAGE TO DEMERARA FOR THE ARRANGEMENT OF SOME ARDUOUS AFFAIRS. HIS BROTHER (REAR ADMIRAL ADAM) ACCOMPANIED HIM. A SIGNAL INSTANCE OF FAMILY AFFECTION. FRANCIS WAS SEIZED WITH THE YELLOW FEVER ON THEIR VOYAGE HOME AND ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 1820, AGED 29, HE EXPIRED IN HIS BROTHER'S ARMS. HIS REMAINS WERE COMMITTED TO THE OCEAN. Put up by his Father in July 1827."

T71/885 British Guiana claim no. 663 (Nismes).

1. Ancestry.com, England and Wales Christening Records 1530-1906 [database online]; David Wilkinson, ‘Adam, William (1751–1839)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/108, [accessed 29/05/2012]]; J. K. Laughton, ‘Adam, Sir Charles (1780–1853)’, rev. Andrew Lambert, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/100, accessed 29/05/2012]. PROB 11/1634.

2. Photograph and transcription at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=75240373 [accessed 29/05/2012].