Lord Palmerdale crashed into Fang Rock on his boat. He was accompanied by his secretary, Adelaide Lessage, his captain, Captain Harker and his friend and blackmailer, James Skinsale.
Palmerdale was a snobby and arrogant man who tried to make it to Bristol in the terrible fog. After they were rescued by Vince Hawkins, they went to the lighthouse to warm up and settle for the night, but their plans were ruined when the Fourth Doctor revealed Engineer Ben had died that very night and the lighthouse was under attack by a Rutan. Lord Palmerdale was desparate to get to Bristol, so he looked around the lighthousefor a means of communication until he found one. He could not use it so he bribed Vince Hawkins to to work it. When Palmerdale stood on the outside of the lighthouse he was electrocuted and thrown off the lighthouse by the Rutan. (DW: Horror of Fang Rock)