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. He was buried in the churchyard of the
Priory Church of St George, Dunster. ==Family==