Sir james athol wood, descended from the Woods, of Largo, in the county of Fife, is the third son of Mr. Alexander Wood, of Perth, in North Britain. He was born in the year 1760; and, with his younger brother, Andrew, engaged, at a very early age, in the naval service of his country. These young gentlemen were educated at the grammar school, and at the academy, at Perth; which are considered as amongst the best seminaries for naval and military men, in Scotland.

In the year 1776, James Wood, then a midshipman on board the Hunter sloop of war, served on shore, at the defence of Quebec, with a party of seamen. In 1777, he served on board the Barfleur, with Captain (afterwards admiral) Milbanke; and, in 1778, he went out as an acting lieutenant in Admiral Byron's flag-ship, the Princess Royal, in quest of the Comte D'Estaing's squadron, which had sailed from Toulon, for North America. After Admiral Byron had joined Lord Howe, at New York, he placed Mr. Wood in the Renown, commanded by Captain Dawson, as first lieutenant; and, as he left him in America, when he proceeded to the West Indies, Mr. Wood was never again so fortunate as to fall in with his friend, the admiral.