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Admiral Sir James Startin, KCB, AM (20 May 1855 – 25 September 1948) was a Royal Navy officer. Known for his courage, he personally saved at least ten men on six different occasions. His Times obituary described him as "bravest of the brave".

Early life and naval career
The son of William Startin of Leamington, James Startin was educated at the Royal Naval School before joining the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1869. He passed out of HMS Britannia in 1870, having gained no time. As a midshipman in 1876, he plunged overboard into Besika Bay to save the life of a seaman, the first of his many rescues. For the rescue, he received the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society.

During the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, Startin, who was in HMS Tenedos, was landed with the naval brigade. He participated in the crossing of the Tugela River and the construction and garrisoning of Fort Tenedos, performed reconnaissance under fire, was part of the Ekowe Relief Force, and fought at the Battle of Gingindlovu. For his services during the war, he received the Zulu War Medal and was promoted to lieutenant.

Startin then served with HMS Achilles in the English Channel, arriving in her at Alexandria the day after the bombardment of the city in 1882. The following year, he served in HMS Cockatrice on the Danube, where she represented the United Kingdom's interest in the European Commission of the Danube. In June 1883, he jumped overboard to assist in the saving of a drowning man. From 1884 to 1885 he served on HMS Minotaur in the English Channel. On the night of 7 July 1884, at Portland, Startin jumped overboard and saved five men who had been thrown out of a boat. For the rescue, he was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society.

Startin was promoted to commander in 1891. From 1893 to 1894, he served with the Dockyard Reserve at Devonport.

From 1895 to 1897, he commanded HMS Barrosa. Operating from Zanzibar, Startin captured at least four dhows employed in the slave trade and freed a number of slaves. During the Benin Expedition of 1897, Startin landed a force under Captain Michael Pelham O'Callaghan which participated in the advance on Gwato. For his services during the campaign, Startin was promoted to captain in 1897.

He then commanded HMS Arethusa from 1899 to 1903, taking her to the Pacific Station. In 1900, Arethusa was detached to reinforce the China Squadron during the Boxer Rebellion, and served as the senior officer in the Gulf of Pechili.

Returning from China, he helped to save another man at Sheerness, jumping from the Arethusa into the water. He subsequently saved another man in the English Channel during steam trials while in command of HMS Halcyon, jumping overboard in very heavy sea.

He briefly commanded HMS Powerful in 1903, then HMS Jupiter from 1903 to 1905. In 1905, he commanded the battleship HMS Commonwealth, but was relieved in December of that year in relation to his handling of the stranding of the repair ship Assistance in Tetuan Bay.

From 1906 to his promotion to flag rank in 1907, he was naval aide-de-camp to the King. Promoted to rear-admiral in 1907, he served as Rear-Admiral in the Channel Fleet, which then became the Second Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet. He attended the Royal Naval War College in 1907–1908, being ranked fifth out of six flag officers.

He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1911, but was not offered further command. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1914.

First World War
On the outbreak of the First World War, Startin was placed on the retired list in September 1914 at his own request to take up an appointment in the Royal Naval Reserve. The same month, he was given a temporary commission as a lieutenant-commander, then as a commander, in the RNR. In December, he was promoted to captain.

From 1915 to 1919, he was Senior Naval Officer, Granton. Admiral Jellicoe described him as "the life and soul of the patrols and minesweepers working from Granton" who "was frequently at sea in decoy ships fitted out there, as well as in minesweepers, etc." An early adopter of the Q-ship concept, he converted twenty-nine boats for that purpose.

He was promoted to admiral on the retired list in 1915. In 1917, he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

On 10 June 1918, an explosion occurred on board HM Motor Launch 64. Startin, aged 63, jumped on board the burning boat and went down the hatch to rescue the engineer, even though the forward tanks might have exploded at any moment. The engineer, who had been severely injured, did not survive. For this act of bravery, Startin was awarded the Albert Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea for by the King. His younger son had received the same distinction two years earlier: this was the only recorded instance of a father and son both being awarded the Albert Medal.

Later life and death
After the end of the war, Startin took part of the victory parade in London in 1919. Later that year, he was one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of Admiral The Lord Beresford. He retired to Hayling Island, and completed a tour of the world with his wife in 1922. He was also involved with the Royal National Mission to the Deep Sea Fishermen.

Family
Both his sons joined the Royal Navy. Sub-Lieutenant Francis Henry James Startin, RNVR (born 1891), died of wounds in 1915 while serving with the Royal Naval Division at Gallipoli. His other son, Captain Robert Arthur Startin, OBE, AM (1894–1967) also received the Albert Medal, which was awarded for his his rescue of the crew of a whaler during a blizzard in 1916.

Assessment
Sir Seymour Fortescue wrote that Startin "was one of those very rare and fortunate individuals who have absolutely no sense or knowledge of fear".