Monument in St James’ Church, Christow, Devon commemorating Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, RN, d. 1833

Location

St James' Church, Christow, Devon, England

Transcript

'IN A VAULT BENEATH REPOSE THE REMAINS OF / THE RIGHT HONBLE EDWARD PELLEW, VISCOUNT AND BARON EXMOUTH/ OF CANONTEIGN, A BARONET AND LL.D., VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM / AND ADMIRAL OF THE RED SQUADRON OF HIS MAJESTY'S FLEET / KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST HONBLE MILITARY ORDER OF THE BATH / ALSO OF THE ROYAL AND DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF CHARLES THE THIRD OF SPAIN / OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF ST MAURICE AND ST LAZARE OF SARDINIA AND / HIGH STEWARD OF GREAT YARMOUTH, AND ONE OF / THE ELDER BRETHEREN OF THE HONBLE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE. / HIS EMINENT PUBLIC SERVICES ARE RECORDED IN THE ANNALS / AND LIVE IN THE MEMORY OF A GRATEFUL COUNTRY. / THIS PRIVATE AND MORE HUMBLE MONUMENT RECORDS HIS CHRISTIAN VIRTUES; / HIS ACTIVE BENEVOLENCE WHICH OFTEN RISKED HIS LIFE TO / RESCUE FELLOW CREATURES FROM THE DEEP, AND TO BREAK THE CHAINS OF / CHRISTIAN BRETHREN MOURNING IN HELPLESS CAPTIVITY, IN A HEATHEN LAND. / ALL HUMAN GLORY CEASES IN THE GRAVE, BUT FAR DEARER IS THE MEMORY OF / THAT DEVOUT FAITH, WHICH LED HIM IN DEEP HUMILITY TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST, / AND THE STAR THAT GUIDED HIM TO HIS DESIRED HAVEN, / AND THE ANCHOR OF HIS HOPE WHEN ON THE DEATH-BED OF THE JUST, / HE YIELDED UP HIS SOUL TO HIS REDEEMER. / HE DEPARTED IN PEACE ON THE 23RD OF JANUARY / IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1833, AND IN THE 76TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. / THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY HIS GRATEFUL AND AFFECTIONATE FAMILY / TO THE MEMORY OF THE BEST OF HUSBANDS AND PARENTS.' [Slab below] 'I / While o'er the reeling wreck the savage storm / Poured all its lightnings, thunders, blasts and hail, / And ever horror in its wildest form / Smote the firm heart, that never knew to fail; / II / Twas thine, Pellew, sublimely great and good; / For man, thy brother man, distress'd, to dare / The dreadful passage of the raging flood, / And join the frantic children of despair. / III / There, it was thine, in comfort's balmy tone, / To sooth their sorrows 'mid the tempests roar, / To hush the mother's shriek, the sick man's groan / And bear the sufferers, trembling to the shore. / IV / So, when this mighty orb, in dread alarm, / Shall crash in ruins, at its God's decree; / May thy Redeemer, with triumphant arm, / From the vast wreck of all things, rescue thee'

Details

Event

Bombardment of Algiers

Event Date

1816

Event Category

19th century conflicts in Africa

People

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