Down Memory Lane
Last updated 10:41, Thursday, 09 October 2008
WE found this old photo of memorabilia of Sir Pulteney Malcolm laid out on a display table but we do not know where.
He was born in 1768, the third son of George Malcolm, and he entered the Royal Navy at an early age. He received many accolades. One can be seen on the table to the left; maybe the gold medal received for services in the battle of San Domingo.
In 1813 he was made Rear-Admiral and and helped Wellington in 1815.
After the battle of Waterloo, Sir Pulteney was entrusted with conveying to St Helena the defeated Napoleon and was commended by Napoleon for his chivalrous conduct.
“Ah, there is a man with a countenance really pleasing, open, frank and sincere . . . his countenance bespeakes his heart and I’m sure he is a good 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 same time.”
There is a story from 1832 when the three brothers, Sir John, Sir James and Sir Pulteney were entertained at a great banquet in their honour in the Crown Hotel, Langholm. The townsfolk gathered outside had removed the horses from the carriage and in celebration of the men’s achievements had drawn the carriage along the High Street out of the town towards Irvine House, the Admiral’s residence.
He died in 1838 and was buried in St Mary-le-Bone church, London. His statue, sculpted by David Dunbar, was erected in 1842 in Langholm. It represents Sir Pulteney as a British Admiral, left hand on the hilt of his sword, and right hand upon the order of St Michael and St John on his breast.
