Pownoll Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth
Encyclopedia
Pownoll Bastard Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth (1 July 1786 – 3 December 1833) was an English peer
and officer of the Royal Navy
. He was the eldest son of Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth
. Like his father, and his younger brother Fleetwood Pellew
, he served in the Royal Navy and attained the rank of Post Captain in 1806. He did not achieve great success in the Navy despite the influence
of his father.
Pellew first served as a midshipman
in 1798 under his father, Sir Edward Pellew, in the 74-gun ship of the line
Impétueux
. He was described at this time by his father as "clever and quick, but idle and unmanageable." This was just after the Spithead and Nore mutinies
and the ship's company was still restive. A mutiny was put down and the participants were court martialled and hanged at the yard arm
or flogged round the fleet
in Port Mahon
.
Pellew was made a lieutenant well before he had served the mandatory seven years at sea as Sir Edward had considerable influence with the authorities. Favours in parliament ensured Sir Edward's promotion to Admiral, and Pownoll's promotion to commander at the very early age of seventeen. His first command was the 18-gun in the West Indies under Admiral Dacres
. Unfortunately Fly was lost on a reef in 1805, though the crew were saved. Pellew underwent the mandatory court martial for the loss of his ship and was found not guilty of negligence
. He rejoined his father now at Madras. Admiral Pellew was by this time Commander in Chief of the Navy in the East Indies. Pownoll was immediately made acting-captain of the frigate
, and was given upon his father promoting him to post-rank in 1806.
Both father and son were becoming wealthy with the prize money
to be won in the East Indies and in October 1808, Pownoll married Eliza Harriet Barlow, eldest daughter of Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet, the Governor of Madras. After his marriage, Pellew returned to England and started building the new family seat of Canonteign in Devon
. He did not stay in the Navy but became involved in politics, serving as Member of Parliament
for Launceston
from 1812 to 1830. His father's friendship with the Duke of Northumberland
was important in his gaining the seat.
His father became Lord Exmouth in 1814 and Viscount Exmouth in 1816. When he died in January 1833, Pownoll became the second Viscount Exmouth, a title he enjoyed for just eleven months. He died at age 47 and was succeeded by his eldest son Edward Pellew
.
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and officer of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He was the eldest son of Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth
Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth
Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, GCB was a British naval officer. He fought during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary, and the Napoleonic Wars...
. Like his father, and his younger brother Fleetwood Pellew
Fleetwood Pellew
Admiral Sir Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew CB KCH was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was the son of Captain Edward Pellew, who later became an admiral and first Viscount Exmouth...
, he served in the Royal Navy and attained the rank of Post Captain in 1806. He did not achieve great success in the Navy despite the influence
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
of his father.
Pellew first served as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1798 under his father, Sir Edward Pellew, in the 74-gun ship of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
Impétueux
French ship America (1788)
America was a Téméraire-class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. The Royal Navy captured her in 1794 at the Battle of the Glorious First of June. She then served with the British under the name HMS Impetueux until she was broken up in 1813...
. He was described at this time by his father as "clever and quick, but idle and unmanageable." This was just after the Spithead and Nore mutinies
Spithead and Nore mutinies
The Spithead and Nore mutinies were two major mutinies by sailors of the Royal Navy in 1797. There were also discontent and minor incidents on ships in other locations in the same year. They were not violent insurrections, being more in the nature of strikes, demanding better pay and conditions...
and the ship's company was still restive. A mutiny was put down and the participants were court martialled and hanged at the yard arm
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
or flogged round the fleet
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
in Port Mahon
Mahon
Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...
.
Pellew was made a lieutenant well before he had served the mandatory seven years at sea as Sir Edward had considerable influence with the authorities. Favours in parliament ensured Sir Edward's promotion to Admiral, and Pownoll's promotion to commander at the very early age of seventeen. His first command was the 18-gun in the West Indies under Admiral Dacres
James Richard Dacres (1749–1810)
James Richard Dacres was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
. Unfortunately Fly was lost on a reef in 1805, though the crew were saved. Pellew underwent the mandatory court martial for the loss of his ship and was found not guilty of negligence
Negligence
Negligence is a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. The area of tort law known as negligence involves harm caused by carelessness, not intentional harm.According to Jay M...
. He rejoined his father now at Madras. Admiral Pellew was by this time Commander in Chief of the Navy in the East Indies. Pownoll was immediately made acting-captain of the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
, and was given upon his father promoting him to post-rank in 1806.
Both father and son were becoming wealthy with the prize money
Prize money
Prize money has a distinct meaning in warfare, especially naval warfare, where it was a monetary reward paid out to the crew of a ship for capturing an enemy vessel...
to be won in the East Indies and in October 1808, Pownoll married Eliza Harriet Barlow, eldest daughter of Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet, the Governor of Madras. After his marriage, Pellew returned to England and started building the new family seat of Canonteign in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He did not stay in the Navy but became involved in politics, serving as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Launceston
Launceston (UK Parliament constituency)
Launceston, also known at some periods as Dunheved, was a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the British House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, and one member from 1832 until 1918...
from 1812 to 1830. His father's friendship with the Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
was important in his gaining the seat.
His father became Lord Exmouth in 1814 and Viscount Exmouth in 1816. When he died in January 1833, Pownoll became the second Viscount Exmouth, a title he enjoyed for just eleven months. He died at age 47 and was succeeded by his eldest son Edward Pellew
Edward Pellew, 3rd Viscount Exmouth
Edward Pellew, 3rd Viscount Exmouth was born on 14 February 1811. He was the eldest son of Pownoll Bastard Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth. His father died in the same year as his grandfather and he acceded to the title in December 1833....
.