Fleetwood Pellew Admiral Sir Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew CB KCH ( 13 December 1789 – 28 July 1861 ) 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 . The elder Pellew used his influence within the navy to secure positions for his two eldest sons in the service . Fleetwood received his first command when he was just 17 , but seemed to justify it with his gallantry and daring , which won him the admiration of his father . His career was noted for a brief incident in Nagasaki harbour while in command of the frigate , an incident that was to have important implications for Anglo - Japanese relations . Fleetwood ' s doting father helped him rise through the ranks , but a tendency towards excessive harshness in command proved his downfall . He provoked a mutiny in 1814 and though he returned to sea in 1818 , he received no further active commands after 1822 for thirty years . He briefly returned to service with the rank of rear - admiral and a post as commander - in - chief in the East Indies and China , but soon provoked another mutiny aboard his flagship , and was recalled . He never again served at sea , and died in 1861 with the rank of admiral . Family and early life . Fleetwood Pellew was born on 13 December 1789 , the second son and fourth child of Captain Edward Pellew and his wife Susannah Frowde . He was educated briefly at Blundell ' s School , Tiverton . His father was promoted through the ranks of the service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , and used his influence to find positions at sea for Fleetwood and his elder bother Pownoll . Fleetwood joined his father ' s ship , the 74 - gun HMS " Impetueux " as a midshipman in March 1799 , and followed him to and then to . The two sailed for the East Indies aboard the " Culloden " , where on 8 September 1804 Sir Edward made Fleetwood a lieutenant aboard . Fleetwood was soon back aboard the " Culloden " , where he distinguished himself in 1806 by leading an attack on the Dutch anchored at Batavia . Sir Edward , writing to his friend Alex Broughton in England recorded : Sir Edward promoted Fleetwood to his first command , that of the 18 - gun sloop in 1807 . He was just 17 at the time . Service on the frigates and HMS " Psyche " followed . Fleetwood was described by his father during this time as being ' beyond comparison the finest youth of the Squadron , universally beloved ' , ' a real treasure ' and ' the flower of my flock and the flower of my fleet ' . He was confirmed in the rank of commander by his father on 12 October 1807 , and was appointed acting commander of the 74 - gun , followed by command of in 1808 . He moved to the 38 - gun in July 1808 . He caused a brief incident in Nagasaki harbour when he anchored there in October , captured several Dutch officials and demanded supplies for his ship . The Japanese were unable to resist him , and sent the supplies . Fleetwood was confirmed in his rank of post captain on 14 October 1808 , and went on to see action in the Invasion of Île de France in 1810 and the reduction of Java in 1811 . Fleetwood sailed the " Phaeton " home in August 1812 , escorting a convoy of East Indiamen . For his services he received a present of 500 guineas and the thanks of the East India Company . The Mediterranean . Fleetwood was given command of the 36 - gun and sailed her to the Mediterranean . He left the " Iphigenia " to take command of the 46 - gun in January 1813 and in October that year was part of an attack that silenced the batteries around Port d ' Anzo and captured a convoy of 29 merchants that had taken refuge there . By February 1814 though the " Resistance " had been ordered to return to Britain . A mutiny had broken out , which though it was quashed , led to several of the crew being condemned to death or to be flogged . The proceedings eventually broke down on a technicality , but it was widely commented on that Fleetwood ' s harshness had provoked the men . This marked the beginning of the decline of Pellew ' s career . He was appointed a Companion of the Bath in June 1815 , and went on to command in the Mediterranean from August 1818 to June 1822 . After that , he was not given an active command , and spent the next thirty years on half - pay . Later years . Pellew continued to receive promotions and awards according to his seniority . He was given a knighthood and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order in January 1836 . He was made a naval aide - de - camp to the Queen , promoted to rear - admiral on 9 November 1846 , and in December 1852 he finally returned to active service with his appointment as commander - in - chief of the East Indies and China Station . His appointment caused some concern , with questions raised over the suitability of sending Pellew , considering his age and past background , and the unhealthy climate and tense diplomatic situation following the outbreak of the Second Anglo - Burmese War . Pellew raised his flag aboard in April 1853 , and by September 1854 he was off Hong Kong . Here he seems to have decided that he would not allow shore leave until the dangerous season for fevers and infections had passed , but neglected to make his reasoning known to his men . The crew were apparently in a mutinous mood , so Pellew ordered them to beat to quarters . When they refused , he sent the officers onto the lower deck to force them up at sword point . Several of the crew were wounded and the nascent mutiny was quashed . The news of these events was poorly received in Britain , " The Times " included several leading articles drawing attention to the mutiny on the " Winchester " , and the one on the " Resistance " many years before . Pellew was duly recalled by the Admiralty , never to serve at sea again . He had been promoted to vice - admiral on 22 April 1853 , and a full admiral on 13 February 1858 . Sir Fleetwood Pellew died at Marseilles on 28 July 1861 at the age of 71 . He had married Harriet Webster ( 1794 – 1849 ) , daughter of Sir Godfrey Webster by his first wife the future Lady Holland in 1816 , and the couple had a single daughter , Lady Orford ( d . 1886 ) . Harriet died in 1849 , and Fleetwood married Cecile Drummond de Melfort in 1851 , but the two divorced in 1859 . Admiral Pellew was buried with his first wife Harriet née Webster in Florence ' s ' English ' Cemetery .