Sir Pulteney Malcolm ^22,218

  General Notes:

M.A. 1835, from TRINITY. Entered the Navy, 1778; served in the West
Indies, the East Indies, and in China Seas; under Nelson in the
Mediterranean, 1804-5; Rear-Admiral, 1813; Admiral Commaner-in-Chief,
Cape station, 1816-17; Vice-Admiral, 1821. Commander-in-Chief in the
Mediterranean, 1828-31 and 1833-4. K.C.B., 1815; G.C.M.G., 1829;
G.C.B., 1833.

From The Times, April 16, 1816

Yesterday, Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm left town for Portsmouth,
where he embarks in the Newcastle, of 50 guns, and proceeds
immediately to take the command of St: Helena, in the room of Sir
George Cockburn.
From The Times, November 28, 1828
Sir Pulteney Malcolm - The following sketch of this present
distinguished commander is from Scott's Life of Napoleon:- "The rank
and character of Sir Pulteney Malcolm, who commanded the squadron upon
the station, set him above the feelings which might influence inferior
officers whether of the army or the navy. He visited Napoleon
frequently, and was eulogized by him in a description which (though
he, who has the advantage of seeing in the features of Sir Pulteney
those of an honoured friend, can vouch for its being just) may have
been painted the more willingly, because it gave the artist an
opportunity of discharging his speen, while contrasting the appearance
of the Admiral with that of the Governor, is a matter most
unfavourable to the latter. Nevertheless, we transcribe it to prove
that Buonaparte could occasionally do justice, and see desert, even in
a Briton. He said he had seen the new Admiral. 'Ah! there is a man
with a countenance really pleasing, open, frank, and sincere. There
is the face of an Englishman-his countenance bespeaks his heart, and I
am sure he a good man. I never yet beheld a man of whom I so
immediately formed a good opinion as of that fine soldier-like old
man. He carries his head erect, and speaks out openly and boldly what
he thinks, without being afraid to look you in the face at the time .
His physiognomy would make every person desirous of a further
acquaintence, and render the most suspicious confident in him.' Sir
Pulteney Malcolm was also much recommended to Napoleon's favourable
judgment by the circumstance of having nothing to do with the
restraints upon his person, and possessing the power neither of
altering nor abating any of the restrictions he complained of. He was
fortunate, too, in being able, by the calmness of his temper, to turn
aside the violent language of Buonaparte, without either granting the
justice of his complaints, or giving him displeasure by direct
contradiction. 'Does your Government mean,' said Napoleon on day to
the English Admiral, 'to detain me upon this rock until my
death's-day?' - 'I am sorry to say, Sir,' answered Sir Pulteney,
'that such, I apprehend, is their purpose.' - 'Then, the term of my
life will soon arrive,' said Napoleon. 'I hope not, Sir,' answered
the Admiral; 'I hope you will survive to record your great actions
which are so numerous, and the task will ensure you a term of long
life.' Napoleon bowed, and was gratified, probably both as a hero and
an author. Nevertheless, before Sir Pulteney Malcolm left the island,
and while he was endeavouring to justify the Governor against some of
the harsh and extravagant charges in which Napoleon was wont to
indulge, the latter began to appeal from his judgment, as being too
much of an Englishman to be an impartial judge. They parted, however,
on the best terms, and Napoleon often afterwards expressed the
pleasure which he had received from the society of Sir Pulteney
Malcolm"

From The Times, December 17, 1834

We noticed last week Vice-Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm's propsed new
code of signals: the subject is one of very general interest to
professional men, as it equally concerns the King's and the merchant
service. Hitherto, the code in use, invented by Captain Marryat, has
been found too limited to carry on extensive communications; but,
according to Sir Pulteney's new code, we understand that a
communication of any length can be made. Copies of the code, when
approved by the Admiralty, will of course be supplied to His Majesty's
ships; and we think that, previous to insuring, underwriters would do
well to require that merchant vessels should be in possession of a
copy. - Navy and Military Gazette.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Knighted on 2 January 1815.

Pulteney married Clementina Elphinstone, daughter of William Fullarton Elphinstone and Unknown, on 18 January 1809. (Clementina Elphinstone died on 19 November 1830.)