Edward Edwards

Edward Edwards (c. 1742 – 13 April 1815) was a British naval officer best known as the captain of HMS Pandora, the frigate which the Admiralty sent to the South Pacific in pursuit of the Bounty mutineers.

Early years

The fifth of six children, Edward Edwards was born in Water Newton, a village near Peterborough, to Richard Edwards of Water Newton and Mary Fuller of Caldicot. He was born in about 1742 and christened in St Remegius' Church, Water Newton. He never married.

On 7 September 1759, age 17, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. To qualify for this commission he would have been required, in addition to passing a lieutenant's exam, to produce evidence of at least six years of sea time. No documents have been located to date which would establish exactly when, and under whose patronage, he started his naval career. It is likely he first went to sea as a captain's servant when about 10 years old and subsequently completed at least part of the required sea time as a midshipman. A signature, 'Edwd Edwards', inscribed on a document witnessing the Will of one Isaac Bishopbridge serving "on Board His Majestys Ship of Warr the Devonshire," suggests that Edwards may have sailed under Captain John Moore on HMS Devonshire in April 1756.

His naval career after he was commissioned included service in the following ships, before being appointed to Pandora:

HMS Nassau, a 64-gun third rate, as fourth lieutenant

HMS Lowestoffe, a 32-gun fifth rate, as second lieutenant

HMS Zephyr, a 14-gun sloop, as first lieutenant, under Captain J. Inglis