William, third Earl of Denbigh, and chaplain to King William III.
Mr. John Richards Lapenotiere was born at Ilfracombe, co. Devon, in 1770; and he first went to sea in the Three Sisters, hired armed ship, under the protection of his father, Lieutenant Frederick Lapenotiere, in 1780[1]. His first professional patron was Rear-Admiral the Hon. John Leveson Gower, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.
In May, 1785, Mr. Richard Cadman Etches and other traders entered into a commercial partnership, under the title of the King George’s Sound Company, for carrying on a fur trade from the western coast of America, to China; and in order to execute this design, they purchased a ship of 320 tons, and a snow of 200 tons; the command of the former, and of the intended expedition, was given to Mr. Nathaniel Portlock, a gentleman who had accompanied Captain Cook in his last voyage into the Pacific Ocean, and who was therefore considered a proper person to conduct an adventure which required no common knowledge and experience. The novelty of this enterprise attracted the notice of several eminent persons, who promoted it by their approbation and countenance. Several young gentlemen, who had evinced an inclination to engage in a seafaring life, were put under Mr. Portlock’s care, for the purpose of being initiated in the knowledge of a profession which requires length of experience, rather than supereminence of genius. Amongst these youngsters was Mr. John R. Lapenotiere, whose great-uncle, Samuel Salt, of the Middle Temple, Esq. M.P. was at that time Deputy-Governor of the South Sea Company, and a warm patron of the new undertaking.
Mr. Portlock sailed from Gravesend, Aug. 30, 1785; and anchored in Margate roads, on his return home, Aug. 24,
- ↑ Lieutenant Frederick Lapenotiere entered the navy under the patronage of Daniel, seventh Earl of Winchelsea, then First Lord of the Admiralty, but who unfortunately died before his protegé had been long at sea. Lieutenant Lapenotiere was distantly related to the Countess of Winchelsea.
