A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pickernell, Peter Giles
PICKERNELL. (Commander, 1810. f-p., 19; h-p., 38.)
Peter Giles Pickernell was born 15 Feb. 1772.
This officer entered the Navy, in Oct. 1790, as a Volunteer, on board the Meleager, Capt. Nathaniel Brenton, lying in the river Medway, where he removed shortly afterwards to the Leviathan 74, Capt. Lord Mulgrave, and in Nov. of the same year was paid off. Re-embarking, in Nov. 1793, on board the Magicienne 32, Capt. Geo. Martin, he sailed for the West Indies, and was there for nearly two years most actively employed. While at anchor in 1794 at Port-au-Prince, St. Domingo, we find him serving with the boats under Acting-Lieut. Forbes in an unsuccessful attempt made to cut a privateer of 6 or 8 guns out from a small bay on the north side of the Bight of Leogane; and subsequently present, with the Belliqueux, Sceptre, and Hermione, in a severe action with a battery on Pointe Leogane. On his return to England, after having gone through scenes of great mortality, Mr. Pickernell was transferred, in Sept. 1795, to the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag on the coast of France of the late Sir Henry Harvey, by whom, having again sailed for the West Indies, he was placed, at the close of 1796, in command of the Alexandria tender, carrying 8 4-pounders, with a crew of 30 men. During a continuance of nearly four years in that vessel he was constantly engaged in carrying to different parts of the station the despatches of Admiral Harvey and his successor Lord Hugh Seymour. He very often, too, came into contact with the enemy’s privateers, six or seven of which he had the good fortune to capture. One of these, mounting 8 guns, with a crew of 70 men, he made prize of, after an action of three-quarters of an hour, 9 Oct. 1799 – the very day that an order he had received, in May, 1798, from Admiral Harvey to act as Lieutenant had been confirmed by the new Commander-in-Chief. We are informed that Mr. Pickernell was the only Acting-Lieutenant whom Lord Hugh Seymour on his arrival did not supersede. During his command of the Alexandria it must be recorded that he witnessed the capture of Trinidad, the unsuccessful attack upon Puerto Rico, and the reduction of Surinam. His appointments, after the Prince of Wales had been paid off, were – 5 Sept. 1800, to the Royal Sovereign 100, bearing the flag of Sir H. Harvey, with whom he served, principally off Brest, until the peace of Amiens – 30 Aug. 1803, to the Severn 44, commanded by the Duke de Bouillon off Jersey – 21 Aug. 1804, to the Galykheid 64, Capt. Isaac Wolley, lying in the river Humber – 9 April, 1805, to the Revenge 74, Capts. Robt. Moorsom and Sir John Gore, in which ship he served as Second Lieutenant at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805, and as First at the capture, by Sir Sam. Hood, of four French frigates off Rochefort, 25 Sept. 1806 – 22 Jan. 1807, to the Excellent 74, Capt. John West, fitting at the Nore – and 13 July, 1808, to the command of the 12-gun brig Gallant. In the latter vessel, after cruizing in the Downs, and previously to being sent to the coast of Scotland, he accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren, and assisted in destroying the enemy’s batteries on South Beveland. He attained his present rank 4 July, 1810. The only active appointment he could ever afterwards succeed in obtaining was to the Ordinary at Sheerness, where he served for a period of three years, dating from 22 Oct. 1823. He was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 11 Dec. 1846.
Commander Pickernell married, 7 Feb. 1807, and has issue six children. Agent – Wm. H. B. Barwis.