Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nugent, Charles Edmund
NUGENT, Sir CHARLES EDMUND (1759?–1844), admiral of the fleet, born about 1759, reputed son of Lieutenant-colonel the Hon. Edmund Nugent, entered the navy in 1771 on board the Scorpion sloop, then commanded by Captain Elphinstone, afterwards Lord Keith. The following year he joined the Trident, flagship of Sir Peter Denis, in the Mediterranean, and in 1775 went out to North America in the Bristol, carrying the broad pennant of Sir Peter Parker (1721–1811) [q. v.] At the attack on Sullivan's Island on 28 June 1776 he was an acting lieutenant of the Bristol, and in September, still as acting lieutenant, followed Parker to the Chatham. In the beginning of 1778 Parker went to Jamaica as commander-in-chief, and on 26 May 1778 promoted Nugent to the rank of commander, his former promotion as lieutenant being still unconfirmed. His name first appears in the navy list as a commander. On 2 May 1779 he was posted to the 28-gun frigate Pomona, and in her took part in the reduction of Omoa (19–20 Oct. 1779), under the Hon. John Luttrell. Previous to the attack Nugent was sent in the Racehorse schooner to procure pilots in the Bay of Honduras, and, in attempting to land at St. George's Key, fell in among a number of armed Spanish boats, and was captured. He was stripped, handcuffed, and confined in a dungeon till the next day, when, on the arrival of the Pomona, which the Racehorse had summoned to his assistance, the Spaniards made off, and Nugent and his boat's crew released themselves. He continued during the war on the Jamaica station, and returned to England with Parker in 1782. In 1783 he was returned to parliament as member for Buckingham, and during the following years was a steady though silent supporter of the government. In 1793 he was appointed to the Veteran, one of the fleet which went out to the West Indies under the command of Sir John Jervis, afterwards Earl of St. Vincent [q. v.] On the surrender of Guadeloupe Nugent was sent home with despatches, May 1794, and in the spring of 1795 was appointed to the Cæsar, which he commanded in the Channel till his promotion to the rank of rear-admiral on 20 Feb. 1797. He became vice-admiral on 1 Jan. 1801, and in 1805 was captain of the fleet off Brest under Cornwallis. He had no further service, but was promoted to be admiral on 28 April 1808, and admiral of the fleet on 24 April 1833. On 12 March 1834 he received the grand cross of the Hanoverian order (G.C.H.), and died on 7 Jan. 1844, aged 85. He was married, and left issue one daughter.
[Naval Chronicle, x. 441, with portrait; Marshall's Roy. Nav. Biogr. i. 94; Gent. Mag. 1844, ii. 89.]