Q&A · 11:45-12:29

Pellew's prize money in Indefatigable

A prize-money answer explains why Pellew's command status makes a simple total difficult to calculate.

Question

Roughly how much prize money did Edward Pellew receive while captain of Indefatigable?

Short answer

The exact total is disputed because Pellew could claim both a captain's share and a squadron commander's share, but it made him a multimillionaire in modern terms.

Notes

The passage distinguishes the money earned as Indefatigable's captain from the additional share claimed as a squadron commander from captures made by other ships. A precise figure remains disputed, but the accumulated wealth amounted to many millions in modern terms. The distinction shows how command hierarchy shaped personal fortunes in the sailing navy.