Teignmouth&Shaldon Museum

Edward Pellew entered the Royal Navy at thirteen in 1770 and rose steadily in rank in consequence of outstanding personal courage and unexampled tactical
brilliance as a Frigate Captain. When of superior rank he, on several occasions, sprang overboard to support drowning seamen, sometimes with little hope of being rescued. He was made a Commander for fighting a successful action against a French frigate after his Captain had been killed. In 1782 he became post Captain after an attack on three French privateers. He was Captain of the Nymph which took the first French warship, the Cleopatra, on the outbreak of war with revolutionary France in 1793. By 1794 he was Commodore of the Western Frigate Squadron. In 1796, at Plymouth, he organised the rescue of the complement of the Dutton, an East Indiaman.

The image displayed above is of a picture now in the National Portrait
Gallery in London, painted by Northcote in 1804, and depicts Sir Edward Pellew Bart., as he then was, in full dress uniform of a Rear Admiral.

Meanwhile, the war with France continued and Pellew retook the first British warship the French had captured. He became Commander-in-Chief East Indies in 1806, of the North Sea in 1820 and then succeeded Nelson, Collingwood and Cotton as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean from 1811 to 1814.

In 1812 the Pellew family, who lived at Canonteign House in the Teign Valley, purchased West Cliffe House, now called Bitton House, Teignmouth. His time as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean was coming to an end. Typically, in 1814 Pellew landed at Marseilles, which had risen for the Bourbons, and as news of Waterloo put an end to hostilities he was on horseback leading an allied army against the French Revolutionary General, Marshal Brune. Returning to England, he was created Viscount Exmouth in 1815 and settled at his Teignmouth home.

It was not long before his services were required once more. By international agreement at the Congress of Vienna, Lord Exmouth was ordered to suppress trade in Christian slaves, carried on by the Barbary States of Tripoli, Tunis and Algiers. The principal Corsair stronghold of Algiers was selected for attack and, although protected by some 1,000 guns and 8,000 gunners, which were lodged in forts with casements five feet thick and which could be continuously reinforced from an auxiliary arm of 30,000, Lord Exmouth had anticipated the order. He had sent one of his captains secretly to survey and plan the defences of Algiers. Consequently, his force was beyond the arc of fire of the main three-tier shore battery. Helped by a Dutch Fleet of five frigates who played an important diversionary role in the battle that ensued, the British ships destroyed the Algerian defences in an eight hour bombardment and secured the release of the 1,000 Christian slaves in the city. It proved a vital blow to the cruel trading in slaves in the Mediterranean.

After the victory at Algiers, Lord Exmouth was made Commander-in-Chief Plymouth and settled in Bitton House, becoming a great benefactor to the town and was responsible for the rebuilding of part of St. James’s Church, West Teignmouth. In 1832 he was appointed Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. He died at Bitton House in 1833 and was buried at Christow. The flag under which he fought at Algiers was used for the pall and a young oak, to bear his name, was planted near the grave.

Later a monument was erected to his memory in the church at Christow. The memorial records the many honours bestowed upon him by his country, including Knight of the Order of the Bath, and from other countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Sicily, Sardinia and Savoy. He was also High Steward of Great Yarmouth and Elder Brethren of the Hon. Corporation of Trinity House.

After the Algiers victory, Lord Exmouth was made Commander-in-Chief Plymouth and settled in Bitton House, becoming a great benefactor to the town and was responsible for the rebuilding of part of St. James’ Church, West Teignmouth. In 1832 he was appointed Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. He died at Bitton House in 1833 and was buried at Christow. The flag under which he fought at Algiers was used for the pall and a young oak, to bear his name, was planted near the grave.

Remarkable also the memorial records lines from a poem written to commemorate “Lord Exmouth’s humane and magnanimous conduct, when at the imminent risk of his life he rescued (under the blessing of Divine Providence) near five hundred souls, men, women and children, many of whom were sick, from the wreck of the “Dutton” East Indiaman, in a tremendous storm, January 26th 1796”.

The poem, written by a spectator of the event, was recited at a public dinner given by the Corporation of Plymouth to honour the hero. The event is also recorded in a painting in the Plymouth Museum. Sir Edward Pellew and his wife were in their carriage on their way to dine with the Vicar of Charles, when they saw the “Dutton”, driven into Plymouth Sound by the storm, was in difficulties. He managed to get aboard, though in doing so injured his back. Taking charge, he ensured that all on board, over 500 souls, including women and children were saved.

In his time, a man of great courage and ability.

For those wishing to donate money to the restoration of the flag flown by Sir Edward Pellew at the Battle of Algiers a Battle Flag Restoration Fund is in operation.

A special Information Pack about Sir Edward Pellew is also available. Put together by Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum the pack includes:
An Audiotape Cassette
A Monograph on the life of Admiral Sir Edward Pellew 1st Viscount of Exmouth 1757 – 1833
A mounted black and white portrait
Copies of personal written memorabilia

The Pellew Pack is available only from Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum and is priced at £17.00 (UK Sterling only please). This includes postage and packaging. Please do not send cash. Make cheques/money orders payable to ‘Teign Heritage’
Any payment from outside Great Britain must be by Bankers Draft.
All enquiries and orders for this pack by mail only.
Please ensure that your name and full postal address are included with all correspondence.

Fund to raise money to restore Sir Edward Pellew’s Flag which was flown
at the Battle of Algiers

Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum have acquired a flag flown by Sir Edward Pellew at the Battle of Algiers.Unfortunately the flag is in a bad state of repair and is in need of restoration, the total cost of which is £6,000.

As a charitable organization we are looking for donations to carry out this restoration work. In return for your donation we will send you a personalized
Certificate of Donation signed by the current Lord Exmouth and your name will be entered into a Register of Donations.

Please send your donation (no cash please) and address details to:

The Hon. Curator,
Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum,
French Street,
TEIGNMOUTH
Devon
TQ14 8ST
U.K.

Make cheques/money orders (UK Sterling only payable to : Teign Heritage.

Description

Large dark green wool flag with white cotton circles of varying sizes appliquéd onto one side. There are many repairs of navy blue wool rectangles and darnings in navy, light blue and light brown wool. Along one edge (attached to part of a broken flag pole) there is a densly woven canvas. The flag is sandwiched between the remains of two layers of cotton (fishing?) knotted net and has recently been loosely sewn onto cotton flannel sheeting to allow for it to be photographed and rolled.

Dimensions: 2.64m x 2.27m

Construction

The ground of the flag is pieced from panels of the same dark green, loosely woven, plain weave fabric. This panel is sewn to the pole sleeve along one edge.