A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Percy, Algernon
NORTHUMBERLAND, Duke of, formerly Lord Prudhoe, F.R.S., F.S.A. (Captain, 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 31.)
His Grace Algernon Duke of Northumberland, born 15 Sept. 1792, is second and youngest son of Hugh, second Duke of Northumberland, K.G., by Frances Julia, third daughter of Peter Burrell, Esq., of Beckenham, co. Kent, and sister of Peter, late Lord Gwydir. His brother, Hugh, third Duke, K.G., whom he succeeded in 1847, assisted, as His Britannic Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary, at the coronation of Charles X., King of France, became subsequently Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and held the office of Vice- Admiral of co. Northumberland, and of the town and co. of the town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
This officer (then Lord Algernon Percy[1]) entered the Navy, in March, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Tribune frigate, Capt. Rich. Henry Alex. Bennett, whom he followed, as Midshipman, in the ensuing Sept., into the Fame 74. In those ships he served, off Shetland, Rochefort, and Cadiz, and in various parts of the Mediterranean, until 1810. He then joined the Hydra 38, Capt. Geo. Mundy, and after having commanded a gun-boat in co-operation with the patriots on the coast of Andalusia, he became attached, in Jan. 1811, to the Christian VII. 80, bearing the flag off the Scheldt of Sir Edw. Pellew; under whom, when again serving in the Mediterranean on board the Caledonia 120, he was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant by a commission bearing date 16 Dec. 1811. Prior to the receipt of the intelligence of his official advancement to the rank of Commander, which took place 8 March, 1814, his Lordship occasionally acted as Captain of the Scout and Pelorus sloops, and also of the Caledonia herself, in which ship he fought in a partial action with the French fleet off Toulon, and witnessed the fall of Genoa. He subsequently officiated for some months as Acting-Captain of the Cossack 22, on the coast of North America; and at the period of his elevation to Post-rank, 19 Aug. 1815, was serving at Portsmouth on board the Driver sloop. He has since been on half-pay.
The Duke was elected a F.R.S. 9 April, 1818. He married, 25 Aug. 1842, Lady Eleanor, eldest daughter of Earl Grosvenor. Agent – John P. Muspratt.
- ↑ He was raised to the peerage as Lord Prudhoe in 1816.