HMS Royal James was a 102-gun first rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, built by Sir Anthony Deane at Portsmouth Dockyard at a cost of £24,000, and launched on 31 March 1671. She was one of only three Royal Navy ships to be equipped with the Rupertinoe naval gun. She fought at the Battle of Solebay on 7 June 1672 (28 May 1672 O.S.) as Admiral Edward Montagu's flagship. She was attacked by first Dolfijn, and then Groot Hollandia, before finally coming under attack by Dutch fireships. Royal James was destroyed by the fire and sank. Montagu died, although the ship's Captain, Richard Haddock, survived and went on to hold a distinguished career in the Navy. She had seen barely four months service.