A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Penruddock, George
PENRUDDOCK. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 16 h-p., 33.)
George Penruddock is youngest son of the late Chas. Penruddock, Esq., of Compton, M.P. for co. Wilts; and brother of the present John Hungerford Penruddock, Esq., Colonel Commandant of the 3rd Wilts Local Militia.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 July, 1798, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Adamant 50, Capt. Wm. Hotham; in which ship, while cruizing off the Isle of France in company with the Tremendous 74, he assisted as Midshipman, 11 Dec. 1799, in driving on shore the French frigate La Preneuse, under a heavy fire from the batteries in the neighbourhood of Port Louis. Quitting the Adamant in Dec. 1801, he served during the next four years on the Home and West India stations, in the Braak, Naiad frigate, Raisonnable 64, Capt. Wm. Hotham, Royal William, flag-ship of Admiral Geo. Montagu, Triumph 74, Capt. Henry Inman, and Wolf and Elk sloops, Capts. Geo. Chas. Mackenzie and Jas. Rich. Dacres. On 7 April, 1806, he was nominated Sub-Lieutenant of the Peterel sloop, Capt. John Lamborn, also in the West Indies; where, after again serving as Midshipman in the Cuba, Capt. Fred. Langford, and Bacchante 20, Capt. J. R. Dacres, he was made Full Lieutenant, 28 July, 1807, into the ship last mentioned, which was subsequently commanded by Capts. Sam. Hood Inglefield and Wm. Ward. Under Capt. Inglefield Mr. Penruddock was often in close action with the enemy, from whom he aided in wresting, 11 May, 1808, at the close of an action of 30 minutes, preceded by a long chase, Le Griffon French national brig, of 16 guns and 105 men. Being next, 21 June, 1809, appointed to the Pilot 18, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, we find him present, in company with the Ortenzia schooner, at the destruction, 24 June, 1810, of 5 out of a convoy of 51 sail, protected, near the town of St. Lucido, on the coast of Calabria, by a battery, 16 armed vessels, and a body of musketeers, whose fire killed three of the British. The vessels in question were destroyed by the shot of the Pilot and Ortenzia; the boats under Lieut. Penruddock having been received on their approach by so heavy a fire that Capt. Nicolas was induced to make the signal of recall. On 8 of the following month, being in the vicinity of the same place, Lieut. Penruddock, who was then Senior of the Pilot, handsomely volunteered, with Lieut. Fras. Chas. Annesley, to bring out two gun-boats from a secure position they had taken behind a small island – a service which was fortunately accomplished, although the vessels were well fastened to the shore, and a number of soldiers and people with musketry kept up the whole time a heavy fire on the British. The Pilot herself, on the occasion, destroyed three armed scampavias and 17 sail of transport-vessels, laden with stores and ammunition for Murat’s army at Scylla; and 17 days afterwards, acting in unison with the Thames 32 and Weazle 18, she contributed to the capture and destruction, under the batteries of Amantea, of a convoy of 31 vessels, also laden for the army of Murat, together with 7 large gun-boats and 5 scampavias. In the latter affair Lieut. Penruddock was again employed in the boats, and, in common with the others employed, was exposed to a galling fire from the enemy while endeavouring to launch some of the vessels which had been hauled high on the beach and lay flanked by two small batteries.[1] In Jan, 1811 he returned to England in the Warrior 74, Capt. John Wm. Spranger; but in the following summer, being appointed to the Fame 74, Capt. Walter Bathurst, he again sailed for the Mediterranean. Co-operating afterwards with the Spanish patriots, he landed in command of a party of small-arm men, and in conjunction with the troops under General Donkin took part in the unsuccessful attack upon the fortress of Denia, where, on the defeat of the British, he greatly distinguished himself by the gallant manner in which, under a heavy fire from the French garrison, who had advanced close to the beach, he exerted himself in carrying the wounded soldiers into the boats. We believe that he was subsequently present at the siege of Tarragona and at the reduction of the strong fort of St. Philippe in the Col de Balaguer. He was advanced to the rank of Commander 15 June, 1814; and has since been on half-pay. Agent – J. Hinxman.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1860.