Algernon Percy. Northumberland was the second son of General Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, and his second wife Frances Julia, daughter of Peter Burrell.
He was educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge. Northumberland entered the Royal Navy in March 1805, aged 12, on board HMS Tribune and served in the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1815, when only 22, he was promoted to captain, taking command of HMS Cossack in August, and commanding her until she was broken up some 10 months later. The following year, aged 23, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Prudhoe, of Prudhoe Castle in the County of Northumberland.
Between 1826 and 1829 he was part of an expedition to Egypt, Nubia and The Levant. In 1834, he travelled to the Cape of Good Hope with John Herschel to study the southern constellations.
Northumberland became the first president of the newly formed National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1834, and went on to become the president of its successor, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In 1851 he offered a prize of E200 for a new design of self-righting lifeboat, won by James Beeching, which became the standard model for the new Royal National Lifeboat Institution fleet. In 1862 he became a full admiral in the Royal Navy on the Reserved List. Northumberland succeeded his childless elder brother in the dukedom in 1847. In 1852 he was sworn of the Privy Co
He was educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge. Northumberland entered the Royal Navy in March 1805, aged 12, on board HMS Tribune and served in the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1815, when only 22, he was promoted to captain, taking command of HMS Cossack in August, and commanding her until she was broken up some 10 months later. The following year, aged 23, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Prudhoe, of Prudhoe Castle in the County of Northumberland.
Between 1826 and 1829 he was part of an expedition to Egypt, Nubia and The Levant. In 1834, he travelled to the Cape of Good Hope with John Herschel to study the southern constellations.
Northumberland became the first president of the newly formed National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1834, and went on to become the president of its successor, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In 1851 he offered a prize of E200 for a new design of self-righting lifeboat, won by James Beeching, which became the standard model for the new Royal National Lifeboat Institution fleet. In 1862 he became a full admiral in the Royal Navy on the Reserved List. Northumberland succeeded his childless elder brother in the dukedom in 1847. In 1852 he was sworn of the Privy Co
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