A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pedlar, George
PEDLAR. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 18; h-p., 35.)
George Pedlar entered the Navy, in April, 1794, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board L’Espion 18, Capt. Wm. Hugh Kiltoe; and on 22 of the following July was captured off Falmouth by a squadron of French frigates. Being restored to liberty by exchange in Nov. 1795, he again, in Jan. 1796, embarked on board the Kingfisher 18, Capts. Edw. Marsh, John Bligh, Hon. Chas. Herbert Pierrepont, and Fred. Lewis Maitland; in which vessel, prior to being wrecked on the bar of Lisbon in Dec. 1798, he assisted in making prize of the Betsey French privateer, of 16 guns and 118 men, after a very creditable action productive of a loss to the enemy of 1 man killed and 8 wounded, and to the British of only 1 man, out of 120, slightly wounded. Being received next, as Master’s Mate, on board the Speedy, of 14 guns and 60 men, Capt. Jahleel Brenton, he was present in that vessel, 6 Nov. 1799, when she singly defeated, near Gibraltar, and put to flight two Spanish schooners, each carrying 2 long 24-pounders and 50 men; 10 other vessels of 1 24-pounder and 40 men each; and a French xebec privateer, of 8 guns. In April, 1800, Mr. Pedlar followed Capt. Brenton into the Généreux 74. After the surrender of Genoa he rejoined Capt. Maitland on board the Camelion sloop, commanded subsequently by Capt. Edw. O’Bryen. On 20 March, 1801 , having assisted at the debarkation of the troops in Aboukir Bay, he removed on promotion to the Foudroyant 80, flag-ship of Lord Keith, by whom he was nominated, 16 Aug. 1801, Acting-Lieutenant of the Mutine 18, Capts. Wm. Hoste and Lord Wm. FitzRoy. He was confirmed a Lieutenant 7 Jan. 1802; and was subsequently appointed – 1 March, 1802, to the Loire 38, Capt. F. L. Maitland – 11 Nov. 1803, again to the Foudroyant, bearing the flag of Sir Thos. Graves in the Channel – 26 March, 1806, to the Brilliant 28, Capts. Robt. Barrie, Rich. Budd Vincent, and Thos. Smyth, from which vessel, employed on the Cork and Channel stations, he invalided in Dec. 1808 – and, 18 Aug. 1812, and 12 April, 1813, as First, to the Grampus 50 and Dragon 74, both commanded by Capt. Robt. Barrie, with whom he visited Cadiz, the West Indies, and North America. While in the last-mentioned ship he witnessed the surrender of the town of Castine, and was in meritorious command of the boats of a squadron employed up the Penobscot at the taking of Hamden and Bangor, and the destruction, by the enemy, of the U.S. corvette Adams, a brig pierced for 18 guns, a large privateer, and eight merchant-vessels.[1] On a previous occasion, 5 Nov. 1813, with the boats of the Dragon and Sophie under his orders, he had brought three American vessels out from a creek in the river Potomac.[2] He went on half-pay in April, 1815, having been rewarded for his services with a Commander’s commission bearing date 12 Oct. 1814; and has not been since able to procure employment.
He married, in 1811, a daughter of Addis Archer, Esq., of Leigham, by whom he has an only son in Holy Orders. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.