Pownoll Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth

Who was Pownoll Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth?

Pownoll Bastard Pellew, 2nd Viscount Exmouth 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 Fly 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 Sir Francis Drake, and was given Terpsichore upon his father promoting him to post-rank in 1806.