James Inman

Who was James Inman?

James Inman was an English mathematician, professor of mathematics at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.

He was born at Tod Hole in Garsdale, the younger son of Richard Inman and Jane Hutchinson. He was educated at Sedbergh Grammar School and St John's College, Cambridge, graduating as first Smith's prizeman and Senior Wrangler for 1800. Among his close college friends was Henry Martyn.

After graduating with first class honours in 1800, Inman intended to undertake missionary work in the Middle East, in Syria, but due to a declaration of war could travel no further than Malta, where he continued to study Arabic.

Returning to England, the Board of Longitude appointed him as replacement Astronomer on HMS Investigator under Matthew Flinders charting Australian waters in 1803-4. At this time he became a firm friend of Flinders' nephew, John Franklin, then midshipman. He also befriended the Investigator's artist, William Westall, for whom he later wrote letters of introduction. While on board the East Indiaman Warley for his return to Britain, he participated in the Battle of Pulo Auro. Here he temporarily commanded a party of Lascar pikemen.