Edward Ellicott

Career Ellicott entered the Royal Navy in 1781 as first-class volunteer, serving on board the Mackworth in the Channel Fleet. He became a midshipman in 1783, serving on a number of ships, and was promoted to acting lieutenant in 1793. In that year he commanded the cutter Penelope and in the following he was promoted to lieutenant in the Eurydice under Captain Francis Cole. Under instruction from Sir Edward Pellew, Ellicott commanded the captured vessel to England. Cole cited him "for his very particular attention in keeping sight of the chase, and for his steady and manly conduct when close engaged."

In February 1797, under Lord Bridport, Ellicott assisted at the victory off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. He was lauded for his intrepid conduct during the mutiny in the Channel Fleet that same year. In June he assumed the rank of commander. including John MacBride, Sir Richard Strachan and George Palmer. Immediately afterwards he was appointed to command the frigate Hebe, assisting at the bombardment of Copenhagen, and protecting convoys between Orkney and Sweden. and in 1846 was promoted to the rank of retired rear admiral.

Ellicott lived for many years in Alcombe, Somerset, and died there in 1847 shortly after retiring. At the age of 53, he married the London-born Ann Prudence Starey (1788–1865) in Croydon on 1 August 1821. From about the age of four, Ann’s family home was Croydon Palace where her father Samuel had established a bleaching business. As the oldest daughter, Ann likely helped run the household so her mother Elizabeth and two elder brothers could run the business following the death of their father on 28 October 1809.

Edward and Ann had an only daughter, Elizabeth (1822–1888), who after her father's death wrote the manuscript Some Events in the life of the late Rear Adml Ellicott, as well as writing An illustrated history of the county of Somerset.