Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Edward Pellew
Edward Pellew,
VISCOUNT EXMOUTH, ADMIRAL,
Though a Cornishman by descent, was a Kentish man by birth. He was born at Dover in 1757, and spent the earlier years of his life in that town. He entered the navy before he was fourteen, and his first cruise was in the Juno to take possession of the Falkland Islands. He first gained distinction by his conduct on board the Carlton schooner in the battle on Lake Champlain in 1776. During the war with France which began in 1793 he held very important commands, in all of which he achieved the most signal success. In recognition of his services he was raised to the rank of Admiral, and elevated to the Peerage by the title of Baron Exmouth. He held for some time the chief command on the East Indian station, and in 1816 was employed to enforce the terms dictated by the British Government against the Dey of Algiers. For this service he was created a Viscount, and on the death of Sir Thomas Duckworth, appointed to the chief command of the fleet at Plymouth, which he held till 1821. He died in January, 1833. He was not only a brave and skilful, but a high minded and philanthropic Edward Pellew officer, careful of the moral and physical needs of his men His personal courage was displayed on innumerable occasions, but never more conspicuously than in the rescue of the Button East Indiaman on the rocks near Plymouth. When no one could be induced by offers of reward to take a rope on board the sinking vessel, Pellew himself volunteered, and never left the wreck until the whole crew were saved.
[See "Gentleman's Magazine," 1833.]