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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Poulett, George

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1882078A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Poulett, GeorgeWilliam Richard O'Byrne

POULETT. (Rear-Admiral op the Red, 1841. f-p., 13; h-p., 37.)

The Honourable George Poulett, born 10 May, 1786, is second son of John, fourth Earl Poulett, by Sophia, daughter and heir of Admiral Sir Geo. Pocock, K.B. He is brother of the present Earl Poulett; and brother-in-law of the Duke of Cleveland. His youngest brother, William, an Ensign in the 4th Foot, died in 1812.

This officer entered the Navy, 2 Aug. 1797, as A.B., on board the Princess Augusta yacht, Capt. Riou, lying in the River Thames; served in the Channel as Midshipman, from Nov. 1798 until April, 1802, in the San Fiorenzo 36, Capts. Sir Harry Burrard Neale and Chas. Wm. Paterson, and Malta 80, Capt. Albemarle Bertie; and from July in the latter year until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 3 April, 1804, cruized on the Downs station, the latter part of the time in the Lark sloop. He was present in the San Fiorenzo, and in company with the Amelia 38, at the defeat, by those ships, of three heavy French frigates and a gun-vessel, after a warm action of an hour and 55 minutes, fought within the jaws of one of the enemy’s ports, 9 April, 1799; and also, 2 July following, in an attack made by Rear-Admiral Chas. Morice Pole on a Spanish squadron lying in Aix Roads. Mr. Poulett’s appointments, in the capacity of Lieutenant, were – 16 July, 1804, to the Monmouth 64, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thos. Macnamara Russell at North Yarmouth – and, in March and June, 1805, to the Valorous and Royal Sovereign, Capts. Geo. Nicholas Hardinge and Sir Harry Burrard Neale, employed in the Downs and off Weymouth. He attained the rank of Commander 12 Oct. 1805; was appointed, 14 Jan. 1806, to the Orestes sloop, in the North Sea; acquired Post-rank 31 July following; was employed from 14 Nov. 1807, until 16 April, 1810, on the Home station, in the Quebec 32; and, on 24 July, 1827, became Flag-Captain, in the Prince Regent 120, to Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, where he remained until July, 1830. He was advanced to his present rank 23 Nov. 1841.

From Aug. 1830 uutil his attainment of Flag-rank, the Rear-Admiral acted as a Naval Aide-de-Camp to his late and her present Majesty. He had been previously appointed Receiver-General of the Land and Assessed Taxes in Somersetshire. He married, 9 Dec. 1811, Catherine Sophia, eldest daughter of Sir Geo. Dallas, Bart., by whom, who died 11 April, 1831, he has issue three sons – the eldest, George, a Lieutenant in the 54th Regt.