EDWARD PELHAM BRENTON, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1808.]
Second son of the late Rear-Admiral Brenton, and brother to Captain Sir Jahleel Brenton, Bart., K.C.B., &c. Born July 19, 1774.
This officer entered the navy, in Nov. 1788, as a midshipman, on board the Crown 64, bearing the broad pendant of the Hon. William Cornwallis, with whom he sailed for India in Feb. 1789.
“Nothing deserving of historical notice occured on the passage out, except the incident of the squadron putting into Rio Janeiro, where it was received by the Portuguese with every outward mark of respect, and watched during its continuance in port with the most careful and jealous circumspection: * * * *. The wants of the squadron were relieved, and a timely check given to that dreadful disorder, the sea-scurvy, which had already begun to make its ravages among the men, owing to the quality of the provisions put on board in England. These consisted chiefly of the beef and pork which remained from the American war, and which, after lying five or six years in store, were, from a false principle of economy, supplied to ships bound on a long voyage, and requiring every attention to preserve the health of the crews[1].”
The Crown was the first British ship of the line that anchored in Port Cornwallis, which had been taken possession of the preceding year, and fortified, in consequence of the supreme government at Calcutta perceiving the distress to which our navy and commerce were likely to be reduced for want of a harbour on the coast of Coromandel. After making some observations there, the Commodore proceeded to another place farther north, on the Great Andaman, called North East harbour, which appeared to be better adapted for the required purpose than the other; and effective means were taken for establishing a dock-yard and forming an extensive settlement.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 337 of “The Naval History of Great Britain, from the Year 1783 to 1822” – a work published by Captain Edward Pelham Brenton, in 1823.
