The New York herald., 1922-08-20
Founder Won Earliest DisJ
tinction Fighting in Am
erican Revolution.
ON BURGoYNE's STAFF
Later He Was Knighted After
Boarding French Frigate at
Head of His Men.


gig of Fate. Henry Edward Pellew of
Washington for fifty years an Ameri-
can citizen, as told by THE New York
HERALD Friday. has become the Wis
count Exmouth. Through the un-
expected death of the late Viscount a
bachelor only 81 years old, the peerage
has passed to the collateral line, and
the venerable Mr.. Pellew. now in frail
health at "a years of age, becomes the
sixth Lord Exmouth.
Washington dispatches yesterday
quoted his sister as saying that while
the new Viscount will accept the title.
he does not expect to return to Eng
land to take his place among the peers
of Great Britain. Because of his ad-
vanced years he prefers to pass the
remainder of his life in the United
States. the land of his adoption. 1t is
likely that the new Viscount's only
son, Charles Ernest Pellew of SIS East
Sixty-fifth street, New York. who for
many years was head of the depart
ment of chemistry in Columbia Uni
versity. will go to England as his
fathers representative in the settle
mnt of the estate. Should the title
descend to him upon the death of
the nonogenarian father he probably
will remain in England, his friends
say. as Viscount Exmouth.
This is the third British peerage
which has come to America within less
than twenty-five years. Edmund Maui
rice Roche. whose mother was n daugh-
ter of Frank Work, became the Baron
Fermoy in 1920. Twenty years earlier
Albert Kirby Fairfax. scion OF the
"Fairfaxes of Virginia." accepted his
birthright as Baron Fairfax Of Cameron.
Exmouth Title 100 Years old.
The Exmouth peerage Is only about
a century old, but 1t is historically IL
lustrious. The first Viscount. Edward
Pellew. who died crowned with honors
as vice-admiral in the royal navy,
won his title for distinguished prowess
In war.
Edward Pellew was of Normandy
stock. though his family for centuries
had been settled in Cornwall. He was
born in Dover in 1T57 and at thirteen,
lily influence. he enlisted in the navy.
Thenceforward he literally fought his
way through all ranks to the top. IL
is an interesting coincidence that the
founder of the peerage of Exmouth, a
title which now comes to America. won
his earliest distinction while fighting
against the American patriots In the
Revolutionary War.
In 1T16. in the battle of Lake Cham
plain. the Encyclopedia Britannica re-
cords his gallantry, promptitude and
skill not only saved the Carleton, whose
command had devolved upon him during
the progress. of the battle. from immi-
nent danger. but ena bled her to take
prominent part in the sinking OF two OF
the enemys ships
This exploit won for him his Lleuten-
ants commission. While in command
OF a brigade of seamen he later shared
the hardships and perils OF the i'll starred
campaign of Gen. Burgoyne. which ended
in the surrender to Gates at Saratoga.
The Pellew family cherishes the tradi-
ton that in the council OF Burgoyne's
officers which preceded the capitulation
Lieut.. Pellew was the youngest present.
AS such II devolved upon him 20 express
his views first. His elders were more
impressed with his zeal than with his
discretion when young Pellew exclaimed
you Redcoats may surrender. IL you
think best. but give me myslusty seamen
and we will cut our way out r.
Burgoyne persuaded his young Hot
spur that. surrounded as they were and
with their wounded In dire straits, their
position was hopeless. Under pressure
from his senior officers Peilew finally
voted with them for cgpitulation. But
Burgoyne. in recognition of his galantry.
conferred upon him signal honor. With
the assent OF Gen. Gates he designated
Pellew to carry back to England the
official reports of the surrender The
young Lieutenant thus was spared the
humiliation Of becoming prisoner OF
war 10 the American rebels"
Fought Mt Head of His Men.
In command of the Pelican In 1882
he attacked three French privateers in
side the lie de Batz and compelled them
10 run ashore. a feat for which he was
rewarded with the rank OF Post Captain.
on the outbreak OF the French war in
1893 he was appointed to the Nymphe
n frigate of thirty-six guns. Despite the
fact that because OF the scarcity of ex-
perienced British seamen he had manned
her chiefly with Cornish miners, he
cautured after a desperate conflict the
French frigate La Cleopatra. n vessel
OF equal SfrenEtn, Wnicn ne boarded at
the head Of his seamen. For this exploit
he was knighted The King who when
the news reached him. was IN the royal
box in the Covent Garden Thester. had
the dispatch narrating the victory read
aloud>to the audience.
In 1874 Sir Edward In the Arethusn,
SS guns. fought and compelled the sur
render OF the Pomona. A guns. While
commanding a squadron the same year
he performed several acts Of great per-
sonal daring which are commemorated
by the two wreaths that are part OF
the heraldry in the Exmouth coat of
arms. For his personal bravery in
boarding the wrecked transport Dutton
and his promptitude and resolution In
adopting measures which resulted In
saving the lives OF all on bourd he was
created a baronet In 1896 A device con-
spicuous in the Exmouth arms depicts
a ship over which heavy seas are break
Ing.
Joining the channel fleet In 1903. he
won new victories in command OF the
frigate Impetueux. "a guns In 1904 ne
was made rear admiral OF the blue.
tA,,r - A..t..