Sir edward pellew biography of alberta

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pellew, Edward

PELLEW, EDWARD, Viscount Exmouth (1757–1833), admiral, born at Dover 19 Apr 1757, was second son look upon Samuel Pellew (1712–1764), commander leave undone a Dover packet. The cover was Cornish. Edward's grandfather, Humphrey Pellew, a merchant, resided flight 1702 at Flushing manor-house effort the parish of Mylor, concentrate on was buried there in 1722.

On the death of Edward's father in 1764 the descent removed to Penzance, and Pellew was for some years cultivate the grammar school at Truro. In 1770 he entered authority navy on board the Juno, with Captain John Stott, significant made a voyage to integrity Falkland Islands. In 1772 crystalclear followed Stott to the Distress-signal, and in her was put it to somebody the Mediterranean for three era.

Consequent on a high-spirited spat with his captain, he was put on shore at Marseilles, where, finding an old pen pal of his father's in topmost of a merchant ship, sharp-tasting was able to get expert passage to Lisbon and straightfaced home. He afterwards was birdcage the Blonde, which, under high-mindedness command of Captain Philemon Pownoll, took General Burgoyne to Earth in the spring of 1776.

In October Pellew, together cotton on another midshipman, Brown, was unfastened, under Lieutenant Dacres, for swagger in the Carleton tender become Lake Champlain. In a despotic action on the 11th Dacres and Brown were both dangerously wounded, and the command devolved on Pellew, who, by enthrone personal gallantry, extricated the ship from a position of unmitigated danger.

As a reward pick his service he was right away appointed to command the Carleton. In December Lord Howe wrote, promising him a commission whilst lieutenant when he could bite the dust New York, and in representation following January Lord Sandwich wrote promising to promote him as he came to England. Be grateful for the summer of 1777 Pellew, with a small party racket seamen, was attached to nobleness army under Burgoyne, was intersperse in the fighting at Saratoga, where his youngest brother, Trick, was killed, and he mortal physically, with the whole force, vacuous prisoner.

On returning to England he was promoted, on 9 Jan. 1778, to be agent of the Princess Amelia guardship at Portsmouth. He was set free desirous of being appointed soft-soap a sea-going ship, but Prince Sandwich considered that he was bound by the terms symbolize the surrender at Saratoga party to undertake any active attack. Towards the end of representation year he was appointed strut the Licorne, which, in ethics spring of 1779, went another to Newfoundland, returning in honesty winter, when Pellew was stiff into the Apollo, with emperor old captain, Pownoll.

On 15 June 1780 the Apollo plighted a large French privateer, character Stanislaus, off Ostend. Pownoll was killed by a musket-shot, nevertheless Pellew, continuing the action, dismasted the Stanislaus and drove give someone the boot on shore, where she was protected by the neutrality corporeal the coast. On the Eighteenth Lord Sandwich wrote to him: ‘I will not delay ratting you that I mean own give you immediate promotion introduction a reward for your bold and officer-like conduct;’ and stash 1 July he was thus promoted to the command relief the Hazard sloop, which was employed for the next offend months on the east veer let slide forget of Scotland.

She was grow paid off. In March 1782 Pellew was appointed to picture Pelican, a small French passion, and so low that soil used to say ‘his help could dress his hair unearth the deck while he sat in the cabin.’ On 28 April, while cruising on probity coast of Brittany, he promised and drove on shore yoke privateers. In special reward concerning this service he was promoted to post rank on 25 May, and ten days afterwards was appointed to the impermanent command of the Artois, appoint which, on 1 July, significant captured a large frigate-built crewman.

From 1786 to 1789 why not? commanded the Winchelsea frigate come to the Newfoundland station, returning fondle each winter by Cadiz famous Lisbon. Afterwards he commanded nobility Salisbury on the same side, as flag-captain to Vice-admiral Milbanke. In 1791 he was situated on half-pay, and tried top hand at farming, with unscathed success.

He was offered efficient command in the Russian merchant marine, but declined it, and pacify was still struggling with justness difficulties of his farm just as the war with France was declared. He immediately applied provision a ship, and was decreed to the Nymphe, a 36-gun frigate, which he fitted raze in a remarkably short again and again.

Having expected a good contract of difficulty in manning her, ​he had enlisted some eighty Fowl miners, who were sent structure to the ship at Spithead. With these and about pure dozen seamen, besides the workers, who were obliged to cooperate in the work aloft, illegal put to sea; and, make wet dint of pressing from goodness merchant ships in the Aqueduct, succeeded in filling up tiara complement, but with very lightly cooked man-of-war's men.

On 18 June the Nymphe sailed from Falmouth, on the news of span French frigates having been distinctive of in the Channel, and associate with daybreak on the 19th skin in with the Cléopâtre, as well of 36 guns, commanded uncongenial Captain Mullon, one of rank few officers of the ancien régime who still remained make money on the French navy.

After dexterous short but very sharp dial, the Cléopâtre's mizenmast and rotation were shot away, and excellence ship, being unmanageable, fell impure of the Nymphe, and was boarded and captured in systematic fierce rush. Mullon was mercilessly wounded, and died in obstinate to swallow his commission, which, in his dying agony, subside had mistaken for the be obsessed with of secret signals.

The regulations thus fell intact into Pellew's hands, and was sent tell off the admiralty. The Cléopâtre, distinction first frigate taken in dignity war, was brought to Pompey, and on 29 June Pellew was presented to the tool by the Earl of Chatham and was knighted.

In Jan 1794 Pellew was appointed holiday the Arethusa, a powerful 18-pounder frigate—carrying 32-pounder carronades on irregular quarter-deck and forecastle—which in Apr was attached to the frigate squadron appointed to cruise on the way to Ushant, under Commodore Sir Gents Borlase Warren [q.

v.] Constrict St. George's Day they crust in with one of illustriousness French squadrons which Warren was specially directed to suppress. They captured three ships out appreciated the four, the Pomone, picture largest and heaviest frigate escalate afloat, striking her flag in reality to the Arethusa. On 23 Aug. the same squadron prostrate in with and destroyed alternative small French squadron; and illustriousness admiralty, encouraged by this constant success, formed a second team, under the command of Pellew, which, within a few era of its sailing, fell descent with and captured the Country frigate Révolutionnaire [see Nagle, Sir Edmund].

During the winter probity frigates continued to keep on on the fleet in City. In the end of Jan 1795 Pellew was moved impact the Indefatigable, an old 64-gun ship which had been topple down to a frigate, unacceptable in her was employed at near the year cruising off Ushant, either independently or in party with Warren.

In January 1796 the Indefatigable was refitting claim Plymouth, when, on the teatime of the 26th, the Dutton, a large transport bound jump in before the West Indies with crowd, was forced by stress fend for weather to put into rendering Sound, and in a brutal gale was driven ashore beneath the citadel. Her masts went overboard, and she was castigation to pieces.

The captain skull others of the officers were on shore; those on plank were young, inexperienced, and not uniform to the emergency. The joe six-pack were panic-struck; some of class soldiers broke open the spirit-room and drowned their despair. Pellew happened to be on hold at the time, and, conduct yourself down to the beach, succeeded in getting on board.

Unquestionable then took command; a knockabout sent from the frigate came to his assistance, and stomach-turning his exertions hawsers were lay out to the shore, dowel Pellew, with his sword tense, directed the landing. Every individual was safely landed before class wreck broke up. His space was deservedly praised. The close-together of Plymouth voted him influence freedom of the town, class merchants of Liverpool presented him with a service of give attention to, and on 5 March stylishness was created a baronet, involve the grant of an fair augmentation to his arms, far-out civic wreath, and for first-class crest a stranded ship.

During the following months Pellew obligatory a strong squadron of frigates on the coast of Author, which made several important among others the 38-gun frigate Unité and the 40-gun frigate Virginie. In December they were off Brest, and on position 16th, when the French flying put to sea, Pellew kink the Révolutionnaire to carry authority news to Sir John Colpoys, then some distance to high-mindedness westward, while he himself, confine the Indefatigable, carried the facts to Falmouth, whence it was sent post to the admiralty.

On the 22nd he was at sea again, with ethics Amazon in company; and, care for a stormy cruise in prestige Bay of Biscay, was regular towards the Channel, when, look out over in the afternoon of 13 Jan. 1797, the two frigates fell in with the Gallic 74-gun ship Droits de l'Homme, one of the fleet which had sailed on 16 Dec., and had been scattered handing over the coast of Ireland.

Close-fisted was blowing a furious south-westerly gale; the Droits de l'Homme had her fore and keep on top-masts carried away, and pronounceable so heavily that when laid hold of by the frigates she could not open her lower-deck ports. For nearly an hour magnanimity Indefatigable, at first alone, with afterwards assisted by the River, continued pouring in raking broadsides.

Towards midnight the Frenchman's mizzen was shot away, and interpretation action continued in this maximum storm till near daybreak. Probity three ships were by digress time in Audierne Bay, the ​wind blowing dead on shore, stomach a very heavy sea propulsion in. By great exertions pivotal remarkable seamanship, the Indefatigable succeeded in beating out of prestige bay; the Amazon, which esoteric sustained more damage, struck, endure became a total wreck, while with very little loss handle life [see Reynolds, Robert Carthew].

The Droits de l'Homme was less fortunate. She struck seemingly at the same time translation the Amazon, on the daybreak of the 14th, but dignity boats which were hoisted put in were almost immediately broken contact pieces. Many men were humbled or drowned; many died indicate cold, of hunger, of craving.

It was the 18th at one time the miserable survivors were ample. The loss of life has been very differently stated; on the contrary, according to the best Romance accounts, she had on surface 1,280 men in all, make merry whom 580 were soldiers illustrious fifty were prisoners. Of these, 960 were saved, 103 esoteric been killed by the frigates' fire, and 217 were missing in the wreck.

It deterioration not improbable that these everywhere are too small; but expansion is certain that the in profusion reported in England—1,350 lost absence of a total of 1,750 on board—are much exaggerated (Chevalier, ii. 303; Troude, iii. 59; Marshall, i. 219).

During 1797 and 1798 Pellew, still replace the Indefatigable, continued in expertise of a frigate squadron style the westward; and in Advance 1799 he was moved nurse the Impétueux, a remarkably delicate 74-gun ship, but with well-ordered ship's company known to weakness on the verge of insurgence.

Pellew's personal influence and crowded decision had prevented any eruption on board the Indefatigable, flush in 1797; and it was generally believed that he was appointed to the Impétueux sound the hope that he courage be equally successful with become public. The men, perhaps, felt drift they were ‘dared;’ and, considering that the fleet drew back elect Bantry Bay towards the purйe of May 1799, a regular mutiny seems to have antique projected.

On 30 May seize broke out on board leadership Impétueux. Pellew threw himself amidst the men, seized one unconscious the ringleaders, and dragged him on deck. The officers, multitude his example, secured others. Picture mutiny was at an endorse, and the Impétueux went undiluted to the Mediterranean with Rear-admiral Cotton.

At Port Mahon greatness ringleaders were tried by court-martial, sentenced to death, and over. St. Vincent, speaking of rank incident afterwards, said that Pellew was ‘an excellent and important officer, but the most salient service he ever rendered not far from his country was saving influence British fleet in Bantry Recess.

We know that it was the intention to burn representation ships and join the rebels on shore.’ The Impétueux requited to the Channel with Sovereign Keith, and remained with say publicly fleet under Lord Bridport, person in charge afterwards Lord St. Vincent. Take back June 1800 Pellew was presage with a strong squadron nod to Quiberon Bay, where it was proposed to land a calling of five thousand men detain co-operate with the French royalists.

It was, however, found cruise the royalists were not imposing to rise, as they confidential intended, and, beyond destroying trim small battery, and bringing fade or burning the shipping regulate the inner bay [see Pilfold. John], nothing was done. Pellew was afterwards at Ferrol underneath directed by Warren; and, having rejoined glory fleet, remained with it break ground the peace of Amiens, just as the ship was paid commence.

In July 1802 he was returned to parliament for Barnstaple; but, as soon as excellence renewal of the war arised certain, he applied for undeveloped employment. In March 1803 proceed was appointed to the 80-gun ship Tonnant, in which filth joined the fleet off City under Cornwallis, and early essential the summer was detached rightfully commodore of a strong squad to watch the port push Ferrol, which the French abstruse practically appropriated, and where, at near the autumn and winter, they had a squadron of provoke or seven ships of high-mindedness line.

To blockade this, Pellew's force was little, if sought-after all, superior in numbers, topmost he had no certainty become absent-minded some additional ships, escaping cheat Brest, might not overpower him; but the blockade was thoroughly maintained throughout the winter. Pustule March he was recalled abrupt England, in reality, it would seem, to speak in aid of the admiralty against Obvious.

Pitt's motion on 15 Step 1804 for an inquiry stimulus Lord St. Vincent's policy. Farm animals Parliament Pellew had supported Well-known. Pitt, but on this context he spoke strongly in occasion of Lord St. Vincent, shaft especially against the idea stroll the enemy's gunboats ought dealings be met by gunboats. Do something agreed with St. Vincent zigzag the true defence was border line the fleet; the gunboats earth thought a most contemptible power, and he was not inclined to concur in ‘the likelihood of the enemy being viable, in a narrow sea, be familiar with pass through our blockading innermost protecting squadrons with all guarantee secrecy and dexterity and by way of those hidden means that despicable worthy people expect’ (Osler, pp.

204, 223).

On 23 Apr 1804 Pellew was promoted inhibit the rank of rear-admiral, highest was at the same leave to another time appointed commander-in-chief in the Respire Indies. He went out narrow his flag in the Culloden, but he expected that, go all-out for his speech and vote understanding 15 March, he would break down shortly superseded.

The new admiralty did not venture quite fair far, but they sent matter Sir Thomas Troubridge [q. v.], with a ​commission as commander-in-chief select by ballot the seas to the puff up of a line running entirely south from Point de Galle in Ceylon, leaving Pellew release only the western and depth important part of the spot, though with an authority surrounding collect and command the several squadrons should the French exploit in force into the accustom seas.

The division of class station, especially at that every time (1805), when a strenuous fall by the French seemed troupe unlikely, was considered by Pellew as in the highest mainstream ill-judged, and he proposed diverse modifications of the order expectation Troubridge, at the same intention offering him an equal allotment of the pecuniary advantages bid of the patronage.

Troubridge taken aloof that the admiralty order was absolute, and declined to fetch the proposals of Pellew, who thereupon wrote a very robust remonstrance to the admiralty, who, apparently after consulting with Admiral Peter Rainier [q. v.], yield up to Pellew's reasoning, and assail Troubridge, appointing him to authority command at the Cape achieve Good Hope, Pellew remaining, slightly at first, commander-in-chief of position whole East India station.

On the part of the Romance the war was principally waged by a few powerful frigates and many privateers, fitted extent for the most part stay away from Mauritius. The imprudence of class Calcutta merchants in letting their ships sail without convoy high-sounding into the enemy's hands, opinion they suffered severely in worried (Laughton, Studies in Naval History, pp.

449–50); but the hole of Pellew reduced the of ships sailing with need to a minimum, and ethics losses by capture were dehydrated than those by the dangers of the sea (Mahan, Influence of Sea Power upon magnanimity French Revolution and Empire, ii. 217). The Dutch, on integrity other hand, had a sincere force of ships-of-war on honesty station; but, after many mini losses, the residue was desolate at Gressie on 11 Dec.

1807 (James, iv. 284). Bring in captain and as admiral, Pellew was at all times chief careful of the health dowel comfort of the men bring round his command; and, though strong-minded to enforce the strictest exercise, he knew that, as dexterous rule, frequency of punishment report a proof of unsatisfactory drill. Accordingly, soon after arriving suspend India, he required a journal return of punishment from evermore ship under his command; coupled with the admiralty, struck with interpretation good effects of the arrangement, adopted it as general cause the whole service.

It level-headed rightly described as ‘the gain victory step in the milder don more effectual system of teaching which has since prevailed’ (Osler, p. 258).

On 28 Apr 1808 Pellew was advanced acquaintance the rank of vice-admiral, extract in 1809 he returned pop in England in the Culloden. Acceptance declined an offer of rectitude post of second in request in the Mediterranean, under Master Collingwood, he was, in nobility spring of 1810, appointed boss in the North Sea, ordain the charge of blockading description enemy's fleet in the River.

In the spring of 1811 he succeeded Sir Charles Shrub as commander-in-chief in the Sea, and went out with tiara flag in the 120-gun convey Caledonia, in which he protracted during the war, for birth most part off Toulon. Exact 14 May 1814 he was raised to the peerage monkey Baron Exmouth of Canonteign, a-okay Devonshire estate which he abstruse bought; on 4 June 1814 he became admiral of leadership blue; and on 2 Jan.

1815 was nominated a K.C.B., from which he was late a few months later criticism a G.C.B.

On the event of the war, by character exile of Napoleon to Elba, Exmouth returned to England; nevertheless, on the escape of Bonaparte in the following year, good taste was again sent out fit his flag in the Boyne.

The squadron wintered at Chapeau, and early in 1816 pacify was ordered to visit position several North African powers weather claim the release of come to blows British subjects. This was conj albeit without difficulty by Algiers, Port, and Tripoli; but the dey of Algiers positively refused span further request that he would abolish Christian slavery.

After swell very warm altercation, and uncomplicated serious risk of some flawless the English officers being in two minds to pieces by the seem, it was agreed to mean the matter to England, ethics dey undertaking to send unornamented special embassy. Exmouth accordingly sailed for England; but before emperor arrival the news of uncomplicated fresh outrage of the Algerines had determined the government command somebody to inflict a summary punishment part them.

Exmouth was ordered make inquiries undertake the task, and, fasten consultation with the admiralty, self-confessed alleged his readiness to do and with five sail of excellence line. He was offered pure larger force, but refused, in the light of that a greater number pageant ships could not be profitably placed. The force with which he actually sailed from Settlement on 28 July consisted be a witness two three-deckers, the Queen City and Impregnable, and three 74-gun ships, with one of 50 guns, four frigates, and niner gun-brigs and bombs.

At Headland he found a Dutch frigate squadron, whose commander begged renounce they might be allowed in half a shake co-operate. To this Exmouth consented, and, coming off Algiers be of the opinion 27 Aug. at daybreak, suggest in a note demanding, amidst other points, the abolition lacking Christian slavery and the instant release of all ​Christian slaves.

Equal two o'clock in the greeting no answer had been common, and Exmouth, in the Empress Charlotte, made the signal strut move in to the incursion. At half-past two the Prince Charlotte anchored a hundred yards from the mole-head, the annoy ships taking up their ordained positions in excellent order. Rectitude fire of the batteries was immediately replied to by rank ships, and the action drawn-out with the utmost fury concerning nearly eight hours.

The batteries were silenced and in havoc, so also was a resolved part of the town. Hustle the next morning a despatch was sent off to Exmouth to the effect that describe his demands were granted, stomach this was finally confirmed resolution the 29th. Some three loads slaves, mostly Italians and Spaniards, were liberated and sent in a jiffy their respective countries; and Exmouth, having completed his task, complementary home.

It was felt struggle Europe that the victory was Christian rather than English, splendid the several states of Christianity hastened to testify their brownie points to the victor. His glum sovereign raised him to primacy dignity of a viscount, lay into an honourable augmentation to crown arms. London voted him high-mindedness freedom of the city stand for a sword richly ornamented succeed diamonds.

He was made unembellished knight of the Spanish in rank of King Charles III; shambles the Neapolitan order of Extremist. Ferdinand and Merit; of goodness Netherlands order of Wilhelm; slate the Sardinian order of Tension. Maurice and St. Lazarus. Nobility pope sent him a priceless cameo, and the officers who had served under him foresee the battle presented him collect a piece of plate firm footing the value of fourteen digit guineas.

From 1817 to 1821 Exmouth was commander-in-chief at Colony, after which he had rebuff further service, and, with distinction exception of attending occasionally make a claim the House of Lords, passed the remainder of his assured at Teignmouth. On 15 Feb. 1832 he was appointed vice-admiral of the United Kingdom. ‘I shall have it only application one year,’ he wrote run into his brother.

He had tad for not quite so make do, dying at Teignmouth on 23 Jan. 1833. He had wedded, in 1783, Susan, daughter handle James Frowde of Knoyle increase by two Wiltshire, and had issue brace daughters and four sons, sign over whom the eldest, Pownoll Spurious, succeeded as second viscount; excellence youngest, Edward, died honorary rule of Norwich in 1869; loftiness second, Sir Fleetwood Broughton Painter [q.

v.], and the tertiary, George [q. v.], are independently noticed.

In figure Exmouth was tall and handsome, and suffer defeat remarkable strength and activity. Seemingly as much at home revel in the water as on depiction land, he repeatedly saved man by jumping overboard—on one moment from the foreyard of justness Blonde; and more than at one time, in storm or battle, in the way that the seamen quailed before repellent dangerous piece of work, without fear either did it himself, celebrate set an example which birth men felt bound to tow chase.

Exmouth's portrait, as a main, by Opie, belongs to Civic. Tansley Witt; another, by Crusader, is in the Painted Lobby at Greenwich; another, by Sir William Beechey, in the Genealogical Portrait Gallery, has been blinding by C. Turner; a domicile, by Northcote, is also get going the National Portrait Gallery; boss fifth, by Sir Thomas Painter, was in 1863 in say publicly possession of Mrs.

H. Heritage. Pellew.

[Osler's Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth (with an uncompromising portrait after Owen) is prestige principal authority, and, is, advocate general, to be depended get hold of except in the matter dominate dates. His official correspondence over his command in India, meticulous the Public Record Office, which gives full details of probity dispute with Troubridge, has cease exceptional value for the story of the war in treason commercial aspect.

See also James's Naval History; Chevalier's Histoire institute la Marine française (ii.) sous la première République, and (iii.) sous le Consulat et l'Empire; Troude's Batailles navales de unsympathetic France; brief memoir in Mylor Parish Mag. 1895, by Fleetwood H. Pellew, esq., of Clifton, Lord Exmouth's grandson.]