Commissioner Pett
Despite his contracts from the King, Peter Pett sided with Parliament during the English Civil War and was consequently retained as Commissioner at Chatham Dockyard during 'The Commonwealth' (1649~60).
Pett was the only member of the group of Commonwealth Commissioners who governed the Navy with any technical knowledge of shipbuilding and the designs of most new ships rested principally upon him. He became a Justice of the Peace by 1649. In 1659 he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochester in the Third Protectorate Parliament. He was re-elected MP for Rochester in 1660 for the Convention Parliament.
Determined to survive the rigours of the nation's political upheavals, Pett, with great resourcefulness, having withheld Chatham from Charles I, was afterwards in Holland preparing the fleet to accompany the return of Charles II. The success of these efforts established for Pett a firm relationship with the King.
In 1667 Pett was blamed for the insufficient protection of the British fleet at Chatham, the charge being that he failed to tow the most capital ships higher up the river. Modern historians argue that it is doubtful whether this would have protected them, the Dutch being powerful enough to advance a few miles more, and that Pett didn't have enough manpower anyway. Being asked during the official investigation why he had brought his ship models into safety but not the ships themselves, he answered that the former were more valuable, much to the incredulous laughter of his accusers. Pett's view was that without the models it was impossible to build new ships, as it was not then feasible to build from drawings alone. Pett was fined and fired. He was seen to be a scapegoat for the incompetence of higher ranking officers, as shown in part of Andrew Marvell's satirical poem:
- After this loss, to relish discontent,
- Someone must be accused by punishment.
- All our miscarriages on Pett must fall:
- His name alone seems fit to answer all.
- Whose counsel first did this mad war beget?
- Who all commands sold through the navy? Pett.
- Who would not follow when the Dutch were beat?
- Who treated out the time at Bergen? Pett.
- Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met,
- And rifling prizes, them neglected? Pett.
- Who with false news prevented the Gazette,
- The fleet divided, writ for Rupert? Pett.
- Who all our seamen cheated of their debt,
- And all our prizes who did swallow? Pett.
- Who did advise no navy out to set,
- And who the forts left unrepairèd? Pett.
- Who to supply with powder did forget
- Languard, Sheerness, Gravesend and Upnor? Pett.
- Who should it be but the Fanatic Pett?
- Pett, the sea-architect, in making ships
- Was the first cause of all these naval slips:
- Had he not built, none of these faults had been;
- If no creation, there had been no sin.
- But his great crime, one boat away he sent,
- That lost our fleet and did our flight prevent.
Pett's will was proved on 2 December 1672, and it revealed that he had enough worldly goods to be able to live in comfort after his dismissal as Commissioner. For example, in his will there was mentioned a necklace containing over 270 pearls, and that he was Lord of the Manors of Woodbridge Ufford and Kettle Ufford in Suffolk indicates that he remained possessed of some wealth.
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