Lieut.-Commanders Lawrence Smith, Michael Fitton, Jas. Lindsay, and Wm. Carnegie. After sharing, as Midshipman, in an affair with some Danish gun-boats, he removed, in Jan. 1812, to the Mosquito sloop, in which vessel, commanded hy Capts. Christopher Bell and Jas. Tomkinson, he came into frequent contact with the enemy’s batteries and made a voyage to the West Indies and Brazil. In Sept. 1814 (he had been employed during the three preceding months in the Dunira 18, Capt. Edw. Boys, on the Leeward Island station) he again joined Lieut. Fitton on board the Cracker gun-brig; he served next, from the following Dec. until June, 1816, in the Mediterranean, on board the Ajax 74, Capt. Geo. Mundy; and, in the ensuing Oct. and May, he became attached to the Ganymede 26 and Severn 40, both commanded by Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch. While engaged in the two latter ships in the Coast Blockade, on which service he was the first officer ever sent, he encountered several desperate affrays with the Deal smugglers, and gave occasion for so many letters of approbation from the Admiralty and his various superiors that he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant 24 Nov. 1817. Being re-appointed to the Severn in June, 1818, he was stationed by Capt. M‘Culloch at Dungeness, where, among other affairs with illicit traders in which life was lost, he was once attacked singly, in open day, by three desperadoes, against whom he successfully defended himself, killing one on the spot, and, although possessed of no weapon but his regulation-sword, compelling the remainder to fly. While employed next at Folkstone he received two pistol-balls on one occasion through his thigh; and on another, 9 June, 1821, when on the cliffs to the eastward with only three men, he was attacked by a numerous gang of ruffians, not less than 60 of whom were armed. In the unequal conflict that ensued he received two musket-balls, six pistol-balls, and ten slugs; one of his small party, a quartermaster, was shot through in five places, and fell dead at his side; and the other two were also brought to the ground, the one by a ball in the groin, the second by a shot in the knee. For his conduct and sufferings Lieut. Peat was advanced to the rank of Commander by commission bearing date the day of the occurrence; and awarded, 29 July, 1822, a pension of 91l. 5s. per annum. He was afterwards employed as an Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard, from 5 July, 1836, until 1839, and again from 30 March, 1840, until promoted to his present rank, 1 Jan. 1847. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
PEAT. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 10; h-p., 32.)
John Green Peat was born 1 Nov. 1789. This officer entered the Navy, 29 Nov. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Fame 74, Capts. Graham Moore, Rich. Henry Alex. Bennett, Phipps Hornby, and Abel Ferris, employed at first off Rochefort and afterwards in the Mediterranean; where, in Nov. 1810 and March, 1811, he became in succession Midshipman (a rating he had attained in July, 1806) of the Salsette frigate, Capt. John Hollinworth, and Pylades 18, Capt. Geo. Ferguson. In March, 1813, after he had been for eight months borne as a Supernumerary on the books of the Royal William, flag-ship at Spithead of Sir Rich. Bickerton, he joined the San Domingo 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Borlase Warren in North America; on which station, with the exception of an interval of six months occasioned by ill health, he continued employed as Master’s Mate in the Diadem 64, Capt. John Martin Hanchett, until nominated, 24 Sept. 1814, Acting-Master of the Wolverene 16, Capt. Geo. Guy Burton. On his return home from the West Indies, for the purpose of being paid off, in Aug. 1815, he found that he had been advanced to the rank of Lieutenant by commission bearing date 17 March in that year. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
PECHELL. (Lieutenant, 1844.)
Charles Pechell is son of Capt. Sam. Geo. Pechell, R.N. (1810), who commanded the Clorinde 40 in attendance upon the unfortunate consort of George IV. during her visit to the Mediterranean in 1815-16, and died 30 Dec. 1840, by Caroline, second daughter of Wm. Thoyts, Esq., of Sulhampstead House, Herts. His grandfather, Augustus Pechell, Receiver-General of the Post office in 1785, and of the Customs in 1790, was uncle of the present Rear-Admiral Sir Sam. John Brooke Pechell, Bart., C.B., K.C.H., and also of Capt. Geo. Rich. Pechell, R.N., M.P.
This officer entered the Navy in 1833; passed his examination 14 Aug. 1840; served as Mate on the East India, North America and West India, and Home stations in the Conway 26, Capt. Chas. Ramsay Drinkwater Bethune, Pique 36, Capt. Hon. Montagu Stopford, and Excellent gunnery-ship, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings; obtained his commission 5 Dec. 1844; and from 27 of that month until paid off at the commencement of 1848 was employed, again in North America and the West Indies, on board the Persian 16, Capt. Henry Coryton.
PECHELL, M.P. (Captain, 1822. f-p., 15; h-p., 29.)
George Richard Pechell, born 30 June, 1789, is brother of Rear-Admiral Sir Sam. John Brooke Pechell, Bart., C.B., K.C.H.
This officer entered the Navy, in Sept. 1803, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Nemesis 28, Capt. Philip Somerville, lying at Weymouth; and in March, 1804, removed to the Triumph 74, Capt. Sir Robt. Barlow, part of the force stationed under Lord Nelson at the blockade of Toulon. While attached next, between Sept. in the latter year and July, 1808, to the Medusa 32 and Revenge 74, both commanded by Sir John Gore, he went through much active service. In the former ship he contributed to the capture of three Spanish frigates laden with treasure, and the destruction of a fourth, near Cape St. Mary, 5 Oct. 1804; as also to the detention, in the ensuing Nov., of the Matilda 36, a ship laden with a cargo of quicksilver worth 200,000l. In the early part of 1805 we find the Medusa conveying the Marquis Cornwallis as Governor-General to India, whence she effected her passage home, a distance of 13,831 miles, in the extraordinarily short period of 82 days. During his servitude in the Revenge Mr. Pechell was employed off Brest and L’Orient, and for nine months at the blockade of Rochefort, where he witnessed, 25 Sept. 1806, the capture of four French frigates by a squadron under the orders of Sir Sam. Hood. On the return of the Revenge to England with the Commissioners appointed by the Supreme Council of Seville to treat with the British Cabinet he removed (he had been engaged for the long period of 18 months blockading the port of Cadiz) to the Venus 32, Capt. Jas. Coutts Crawford, under whom, while co-operating with the Spanish patriots, and performing the duties of Lieutenant, he landed, in March, 1809, and took possession of the citadel of Vigo, in which he continued until the besieging enemy was defeated at the bridge of San Payo, and obliged to retreat towards Lugo. In the course of the same year Mr. Pechell was received, on promotion, on board tbe Barfleur 98, flag-ship of Hon. Geo. Cranfield Berkeley in the river Tagus, where he was confirmed a Lieutenant, 25 June, 1810, in the Caesar 80, Capt. Wm. Granger. Being next, 3 July, 1811, appointed to the Macedonian 38, Capt. John Surman Garden, he proceeded in that ship on special service to the United States, and on his return was attached to the blockading force off Rochefort under Rear-Admiral Philip Chas. Durham. While stationed there he assisted in destroying the enemy’s coasting-trade, in face of many startling difficulties; and on one occasion, 7 Aug. 1812, captured a French lugger lying aground within musket-shot of the formidable batteries of La Rochelle, an exploit which was communicated to the squadron by the following telegraphic message:–
