Son of Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Sands, he was born in Washington, District of Columbia He was part of the blockading fleet during the Civil War, which for a time was commanded by his father, and was present at the evacuation of Charleston. He also participated in both attacks on Fort Fisher, for which he was cited for gallantry in action, and twice recommended for promotion.
Sands was appointed Acting Midshipman in the United States Naval Academy on 25 November 1859, and graduated in 1863 while the academy was still in Newport.
In 1845. During the American Civil War, he served in Tuscarora, Juniata, and Shenandoah and, in the years that followed, in United States Ship Hartford and Richmond. Ordered to the Naval Observatory in 1869, he returned to sea duty on the Asiatic Station, a year and a half later. From October 1873 to April 1875, he served in the Hydrographic Office.
Duty in Minnesota and Iroquois followed.
And, in 1884, he returned to Washington, District of Columbia, for duty at the Washington Navy Yard. During the 1890s, he commanded Monongahela.
Served as equipment officer at the Boston Navy Yard. Commanded Columbia and Minneapolis.
And served as Governor of the Naval Home Squadron at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Commissioned Rear Admiral the same year, he served as Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, League Island, Philadelphia, from May 1902 to April 1903. Commanded the Coast Squadron until 1905. Then assumed duty as the nineteenth Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
Further duty on the Retirement Board and as President, Naval Examining Board, followed.
And, in July 1907, he transferred to the Retired List. Rear Admiral James Hoban Sands died in Washington, District of Columbia on 26 October 1911.
Sands was a devout Roman Catholic and his influence was effective in creating a tolerance for Catholics and others of various faiths at the Naval Academy and within the military services. Sands was married to Mary Elizabeth Meade, who came from a famous Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, family.
The son, William Franklin Sands, became United States Minister to Guatemala, and the two daughters, Clara and Hilda, became Religious of the Sacred Heart.
Two ships were named United States Ship Sands for Sands and his father, Benjamin F. Sands:
Sands (Doctor of Divinity-243/APD-13), a Clemson-class destroyer, commissioned in 1920
Sands (T-AGOR-6), an oceanographic research ship, placed in service in 1965
Grandson, James Sands (father William F Sands). Great grandson, James H. Sands (father James Sands, grandfather William F Sands). And two great-great grandsons: James H. Sands-Berking (parents Adele G Sands and Carter Berking, grandfather James Sands, great-grandfather William F Sands), and James H. Sands (parents Geoffrey K Sands and Elena Sands, grandfather James Sands, great-grandfather William F Sands).
Detached from the latter in 1901, he became a member of the Retirement Board and assumed its presidency in 1902.
