A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pearce, Edward Stokes
PEARCE. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 22; h-p., 12.)
Edward Stokes Pearce entered the Navy, 29 Oct. 1813, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Sultan 74, Capt. John West. In March, 1815, after having served on the coast of France and in the West Indies, he joined the Ajax 74, Capt. Geo. Mundy, on the Mediterranean station; where, and at Halifax and in the North Sea, he continued employed as Midshipman and Master’s Mate in the same ship and in the Dee 24, Wye 28, and Alert 18, Capts. Sam. Chambers, John Harper, and Chas. Farwell, until Jan. 1821. In the following month (he had passed his examination 11 April, 1820) he returned to the Mediterranean in the Dispatch 18, Capts. Wm. Clarke Jervoise and Edw. Hinton Scott; he was next, from Nov. 1824 until May, 1831, borne on the books of the Hyperion 42, Coast Blockade ship, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye; and he was then for a few weeks employed in the Samarang 28, Capt. Chas. Henry Paget. During six years of the period he belonged to the Hyperion he commanded her tender the Highflyer. His sole appointments as Lieutenant, a rank he attained 25 June, 1831, were – 2 March, 1837, to the Princess Charlotte 104, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford, under whom he assisted at the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre – and 8 Feb. 1842, after six months of half-pay, to the command of the Lightning steamer. Since his promotion to his present rank, 7 May, 1842, he has been on half-pay.