CARL EDWARD SAGAN (1934 – 1996)

Space Exploration

Sagan never flew in space but he will always be associated with four major space flights for as long as the spacecraft survive.

As a final salute to the Earth and the solar system, Sagan persuaded NASA to turn Voyager 1’s camera back towards the Earth as it was speeding away beyond Neptune and take a family photo of the solar system. The picture of Earth from the depths of space showed a barely visible pale blue dot against a background of stars. By accident because of sunlight reflecting of the spacecraft, Earth is sitting in a beam of light. Sagan used the image to show the smallness and fragility of our home planet in the immensity of space. That little dot contains the whole of human history, everyone and everything that we have known. That's home – a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

Intelligence. His popularity and ability to make science interesting and understandable led to repeated invitations to write fiction as well as non-fiction. After resisting for a while he succumbed and wrote a science fiction novel Contact in 1985, because he felt that this was a further way of presenting the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence to a broader audience. The book was made into a film with Jodie Foster in 1997.

He continued to work for NASA on the Voyager programme and the Galileo mission to Jupiter, launched in 1990. He suggested calibrating the craft for its task by doing a research fly-by of Earth after launch. Pleasingly the fly-by was able to deduce an oxygen atmosphere, water, clouds, oceans, polar ice, life and intelligence. Sagan is said to be have commented that he doubted the last result!

Sagan received many awards and honours, including the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (twice), The Rittenhouse Medal of the Franklin Institute, The Orsted Medal of the American Physics Teachers Association and the Annenberg Foundation Prize for astronomy education. In 1994 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Science.

In 1995 he was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a rare disease that often leads to leukaemia, and despite two bone marrow transplants he died as a result of complications from the disease on 20^th December 1996.

So why is his a Great Life? When he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal in 1994, the citation read:

“No one has ever succeeded in conveying the wonder, excitement and joy of science as widely as Carl Sagan and few as well.....His ability to capture the imagination of millions and to explain difficult concepts in understandable terms is a magnificent achievement.”

For all his purely scientific works and achievements it's this quality of inspiring communications that makes his an unmistakably Great Life.

EDWARD PELLEW 1ST VISCOUNT OF EXMOUTH

His background gave him no sponsors for a naval career. Boxing Day 1770 he boarded the frigate Juno. He was a strong and energetic boy. Moving the following year to another frigate, Alarm, he was an Able Seaman but by 16 he had risen to the rank of Master’s Mate.

1776 saw war with America. Aboard the Blonde captained by Philemon Pownoll, a large influence on Pellew, they sailed to Canada as part of a convoy of 20 transport ships and troops led by General Burgoyne. He wanted to drive the Americans from Canada and move his troops the 120 miles to Lake Champlain. Pellew was sent with 15 others known as The Lake Service under the command of Lt. John Schank. A shipyard was established 30 miles south east of Montreal but as it was cut off by rapids for the last 12 miles everything had to carried. The ship Inflexible and 2 schooners were dismantled and man handled over the rapids together with 24 pounder guns. Lt. Schank made Pellew his right-hand man and became his lifetime friend. On 9^th October the Carlton sailed from St. Johns. Pellew took over as commander after injury to the captain and the death of the first officer. Winter was setting in with harsh conditions with temperatures of -20 degrees. After the hostilities they sailed south. A barge carrying two thirds of their total supplies had been captured. A party of small boats crossed the Hudson and re-captured it but the towing line broke. Pellew dived in with another line, secured it, so it was safely brought back. Unique for a sailor he was commended for gallantry for a battle on land. He returned home to many accolades and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1778.

While he was in Plymouth a brand new frigate anchored, captained by Pownoll. Re-acquainting himself with his old captain, Pellew joined Apollo just before his 23^rd birthday. In a squad of 4 frigates they patrolled the English Channel hunting French prizes. On 15^th June the ship they were chasing ran for Ostend. Pownoll and Pellew were on deck together when the Stanislaus fired a broadside hitting and killing Pownoll. For the second time in his career Pellew took command. Stanislaus was eventually grounded off Ostend claiming the neutrality of the port under the Dutch. Pellew was devastated at the loss of his friend and patron. Lord Sandwich sympathised with him over Pownoll’s death. He was made a Master and Commander. In the winter of 1782 the American war was over, peace treaties were signed with France and Spain. This peace would last for 10 years. The number of commissioned ships were reduced, captains were sent home on half pay including Pellew.

1783 he married. He was 26 she was 18. They lived in Flushing opposite Falmouth harbour where they had 6 children, his eldest son named Pownoll. During his time at home he became a Burgess, Alderman and a magistrate. Four years later he returned to sea.

He became highly respected as a frigate captain, not only for his sailing prowess but for the way he trained his crew into an efficient fighting force. He was always prepared to do anything that he asked his men to do. Sailors were known not to be swimmers, at least five were rescued by Pellew diving overboard.

1793 French declared war. In June after a bloody battle lasting fifty minutes in which he captured a French ship Pellew was knighted. One of the ships he commanded and which his name would always be associated with was the Indefatigable.

26^th January 1796 on the way home for lunch he came across a dis-masted ship below the citadel in Plymouth. The Dutton was carrying 500 troops and families to the West Indies. There was fever on board. Hauling himself out on a rope through a bitter cold sea battered by flotsam Pellew took charge. He organised a lifeline with a cradle to take all off the ship. The rescue lasted well into the night and later Dutton completely broke up. Pelew spent a week in bed recovering. Tributes followed, King George made him a baronet.

Another event which caught the public attention was the defeat, in rough seas, of the Droit de l’Homme. The Times reported on Pellew 32 times, Nelson only 3. Pellew made the equivalent of £3 million pounds from his prizes.

Pellew began to make demands on the Admiralty, mainly to promote his family who were nowhere near his competency. The Admiralty preferred a more diplomatic captain, Nelson. On paper Pellew was promoted but it was more of a punishment. In 1799 the crew was paid off. This time he entered Parliament for Barnstable in 1803. His only speech in the Commons was on the shortages in the Navy but this set up antagonism against him with many influential figures in Parliament and the Admiralty. There was a lot of friction when he was sent to take over the Indies command, ending with a former friend now a rival losing his life at sea. Upset by all that went on Pellew nevertheless returned home a very wealthy man. His next 6 years were as Commander in Chief in the

Mediterranean working with Wellington. At 58 years old he was awarded the Order of the Bath and ennobled as Lord Exmouth of Canonteign.

At home his wife bought West Cliffe House (now called Bicton House) in Teignmouth for her and Pellew and the grand estate of Canonteign where Canonteign House was built for his eldest son.

After 6 months back home Bonaparte escaped and 2 days later Pellew was sent to the Barbary Coast. The Prince Regent had taken up the cause of the Barbary slaves held by the ruler or Day of Algiers. Pellew with much difficulty negotiated the release of 2500 slaves but the British Ambassador was put under house arrest. Five weeks later Pellew returned home to hear that the Dey had imprisoned various British subjects plus 300 seamen from Sicily. Getting a crew to return with him to Algiers proved difficult. Fifty smugglers and 6 poachers, none of whom had been to sea, were sent to his ship. He had 4 weeks to train his motley crew. Commanding a fleet of 21 ships he made them practise firing at targets and to compete with each other. 5 Dutch ships joined them at Gibraltar.

Having made note of the defences at Algiers Pellow made daring plans. He had noted the walls that protected the mole which in turn protected the harbour were high. The Algerians thought them impregnable. Pellew mounted carronades aloft. The Dey ignored a letter to discuss the situation. So Pellew stood on the poop deck and, with his fleet positioned to his orders, he sailed into the most exposed position in the mole. Waiting to be fired on first his crew fired off 3 broadsides in 6 minutes. The walls turned to dust with about 500 defenders killed. There were also many casualties in the fleet. 3 boats were sent into the harbour to set fire to a frigate which spread to the other ships and a warehouse on shore. They returned to the bay at midnight. Next day the Dey capitulated. The Ambassador and 18 seamen who had been taken hostage were released. Later 1000 slaves were also released some of whom had sent 35 years in captivity. Arriving back at Spithead 600 men cheered Pellew who was leaving his ship for the very last time.

Of the previous 46 years he had spent 36 years 3 months 2 weeks and 4 days at sea on a total of 23 ships. The Prince Regent made him a Viscount. Many other countries showered him with honours. He was welcomed back to Teignmouth with parades and celebrations.

Pellew died in January 1833 aged 75 years. His wife refused a London funeral instead he was buried at Christow where the people of Canonteign worshipped.