Royal Naval Biography/Pearl, James
JAMES PEARL, Esq.
[Commander.]
Obtained the rank of lieutenant on the 21st Dec. 1808, and was second of the Mediator fire-ship, Captain James Wooldridge, at the attack of a French squadron near l’Isle d’Aix, in April 1809[1]. Speaking of this service, Mr. James says:–
“Several of the fire-ships were ignited and abandoned long before they got abreast of even the northernmost of the two vessels stationed as guides. Others, again, were admirably conducted; especially the Mediator, the largest and most efficient of the whole. This ship, from her great weight, and the strength of the wind and tide, broke the boom, and thus afforded a clear passage to the others. So determined was the Mediator’s gallant commander to see the service he had engaged in properly executed, that himself and the officers and men who had volunteered to accompany him nearly perished, along with their vessel. The gunner was killed, and Captain Wooldridge, Lieutenants Nicholas Brent Clements and James Pearl, and one seaman, were blown out of the ship, the three latter slightly, but the Captain very severely scorched[2].
The fortunate circumstance of the Mediator (formerly a 32-gun frigate) being fitted as a fire-ship, was the means of the success with which the British arms were so gloriously crowned, as all the other fire-vessels were so small and light, being mostly transport brigs, that none of them could possibly have forced the boom. She was not set on fire till long after the boom had been broken, many minutes after the vessel conducted by Lord Cochrane had exploded, nor until she was within the buoys of l’Océan 120, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Allemand. Her gallant commander was immediately advanced to post rank, and presented by order of his sovereign with a gold chain and medal, and by the Patriotic Society at Lloyd’s with a sword value 100l. Lieutenant Clements was made a commander and received a sword value 60l. Lieutenant Pearl was presented with one of similar value, but, unfortunately, he had not served sufficient time as a commissioned officer to render him eligible for promotion[3].
In the ensuing summer. Lieutenant Pearl was appointed to the Harpy sloop, Captain George William Blamey (formerly commander of the Mediator), under whom he served in that vessel and the Comet 20, at the reduction of Walcheren, and on various foreign stations for upwards of five years. He obtained his present rank on the 29th Sept. 1827.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part I. p. 84.
- ↑ See Nav. Hist. V. 154, et seq.
- ↑ See Suppl. Part II. note at p. 275.