Charles Pellew, 7th Viscount Exmouth

Charles Ernest Pellew, 7th Viscount Exmouth (11 March 1863 – 7 June 1945) was a British peer, chemistry professor and a naturalised United States citizen who inherited the title of Viscount Exmouth at the age of 59 from his father, and held the title for 22 years before his own death.

After inheriting his father's title, he moved back to the United Kingdom, where he lived the rest of his life.

[6][7] On 18 February 1892, his older brother, George Pellew, died from a concussion when he fell down a flight of stone stairs while walking in New York City.

[9] During the same time period, he became the president of the Berkshire Industrial Farm in Canaan Four Corners, New York, but he resigned this position[10] shortly after being appointed a chemistry professor at Columbia College, where he remained until 1911.

One notable example was his appointment, along with a commission of 16 other men, by the President of the United States, Grover Cleveland, "...to examine and test the fineness and weight of coins..." for the US Mint.

[13][17] Because of the advanced age of his father, Charles Pellew was the person who went to Britain to settle the estate of the fifth Viscount Exmouth.

His father, Henry Pellew, died on 4 February 1923, less than six months after inheriting the title of Viscount Exmouth.

[7] He married Miss Mabel Gray on 12 May 1923, in the St. Ambrose Chapel of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

The couple sailed to the United Kingdom on 22 August 1923 so that Pellew could claim his seat in the House of Lords.

News accounts in 1923 stated it was necessary for him to reside in Britain for five years to become a British subject before he could take his seat with the rest of the Lords; however, it was not until 1931 that he was finally able to sit in that chamber.

[24] Upon his death, the title of Viscount Exmouth went to Edward Irving Pownoll Pellew, his 77-year-old cousin, who was living in Pau, France.

[26] On 2 May 1898, Charles Pellew enlisted as a sergeant in Troop A, New York Volunteer Cavalry, and he was mustered into this unit on 20 May 1898.

He travelled with this unit to Falls Church, Virginia, where he was discharged on 6 June 1898 to accept appointment as a first lieutenant in the US Army Signal Corps.

[29] He was then appointed a captain on 1 August 1898,[30][31] transferred to Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York,[32] and honourably discharged from the service on 10 September 1898.