Pellew was made a lieutenant well before he had served the mandatory seven years at sea, as his father had considerable influence with the authorities. Favours in parliament ensured Pownoll's promotion to commander at the age of seventeen. His first command was the 18-gun Fly in the West Indies under Admiral Dacres. 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 frigateSir Francis Drake, and was given Terpsichore 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. After his first marriage in 1808, 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.
An Act for dissolving the Marriage of Pownoll Bastard Pellew, Esquire, commonly called the Honourable Bastard Pellew, eldest son and heir apparent of the Right Honourable Edward Lord Viscount Exmouth, with Eliza Harriet Pellew, his now wife, and to enable him to marry again, and for other purposes therein mentioned.
On 1 October 1808, he married Eliza Harriet Barlow, eldest daughter of Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet, the Governor of Madras, but they were divorced by an act of Parliament, Pellew's Divorce Act 1820 (1 Geo. 4. c. 66). She was born in 1789 and died in 1833. They had two sons and one daughter. These children were:[2]
Edward Pellew (14 February 1811 – 11 February 1876); he would become the 3rd Viscount Exmouth.
Percy Taylor Pellew (15 April 1814 – 31 December 1848); officer in Madras Cavalry.
Juliana Sarah Pellew (16 June 1816 – 31 August 1891)
On 15 April 1822, he married Georgina Janet Dick, eldest daughter of Mungo Dick, Esq. She was born circa 1800 and died 15 February 1870.[3] They had three sons and two daughters. These children were:[2]
Pownoll Fleetwood Pellew (26 July 1823 – 25 December 1851); lieutenant in the Royal Navy.
Caroline Emma Pellew (24 February 1825 – 2 March 1832)
a daughter (September 1827; died in infancy)
Fleetwood John Pellew (6 November 1830 – 2 August 1866), father of the 4th Viscount.
Barrington Reynolds Pellew (18 April 1833 – 6 December 1858); major in the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
Arms
Coat of arms of Pownoll Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth
Crest
Upon the waves of the sea the wreck of the Dutton East Indianman upon a rocky shore off Plymouth garrison all Proper.
Escutcheon
Gules a lion passant guardant in chief two chaplets of laurel Or on a chief of augmentation wavy a representation of Algiers with a British Man-of-War before it all Proper.
Supporters
Dexter a lion rampant guardant Or navally crowned Azure resting the dexter paw upon a decrescent Argent, sinister a male figure representing slavery trowsers Argent striped Azure the upper part of the body naked holding in the dexter hand broken chains Proper the sinister arm elevated and holding a cross Or.
Motto
Deo Adjuvante (over the crest), Algiers (under the shield)[4]
References
Notes
^Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.160
