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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Perceval, George James

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1701706A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Perceval, George JamesWilliam Richard O'Byrne

EGMONT, Earl of. (Captain, 1818.)

The Right Honourable George Earl of Egmont, born 14 March, 1794, is eldest surviving son of the late Lord Arden, by Margaret Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Sir Thos. Spencer Wilson, Bart., of Charlton, co. Kent. He succeeded his cousin, as sixth Earl of Egmont, 23 Dec. 1841. This officer, then Hon. Mr. Perceval, served, as Midshipman, in the Orion 74, Capt. Edw. Codrington, at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805; and on the night of 31 Oct. 1809, commanded a boat belonging to the Tigre 74, Capt. Benj. Hallowell, at the capture and destruction, after a fearful struggle, and a loss to the British of 15 men killed and 55 wounded, of the French armed store-ship Lamproie, of 16 guns and 116 men, bombards Victoire and Grandeur, and armed xebec Normande, with a convoy of seven merchantmen, defended by numerous strong batteries in the Bay of Rosas. Obtaining a commission 7 June, 1813, he joined about the same period the Tenedos 38, Capt. Hyde Parker, and in Sept. 1814, while in charge of a boat belonging to that ship, accompanied a very successful expedition sent up the Penobscot for the purpose of capturing or destroying the United States’ ship Adams, of 26 guns. He was advanced to the rank of Commander 13 June, 1815, and, being subsequently appointed to the Infernal bomb, served in that vessel at the bombardment of Algiers, 27 Aug. 1816. His Post-commission bears date 7 Dec. 1818.

The Earl married, 24 July, 1819, Jane, eldest daughter of John Hornby, Esq., of The Hook, Hants.