Career
He served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, rising to the rank of captain. In the post war period he gained a reputation as a traveller and an amateur botanist. Mangles entered the navy in March 1800, on board the frigate HMS Maidstone, with Captain Ross Donnelly, whom in 1801 he followed to HMS Narcissus.
After active service on the coast of France, at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, and at the British invasions of the Río de la Plata, he was, on 24 September 1806, promoted to be lieutenant of HMS Penelope, in which, in February 1809, he was present at the reduction of Martinique.
In 1811 Mangles was appointed to HMS Boyne, and in 1812 to HMS Ville de Paris, flagship in the English Channel of Sir Harry Burrard Neale. In 1814 he was first lieutenant of HMS Duncan, flagship of Sir John Poo Beresford in his voyage to Rio de Janeiro.
He was sent home in acting command of the sloop, HMS Racoon and was confirmed in the rank of captain on 13 June 1815. This was his last service afloat.
In 1816 Mangles left England, with his old messmate in the Narcissus, Captain Charles Leonard Irby, on what proved to be a lengthy tour in Europe, Egypt, Syria, and Asia Minor.
They travelled with William John Bankes and Thomas Legh. In 1831 Mangles visited the Swan River Colony in Australia. Lady Stirling, wife of Sir James Stirling who was governor there, was a cousin.
The red and green kangaroo paw, state floral emblem of Western Australia, (Anigozanthos manglesii) and Melaleuca manglesii are named after James Mangles.
Mangles died at Fairfield, Exeter, on 18 November 1867, aged 81.
