William Dowell (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell GCB (2 August 1825 – 27 December 1912) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Devonport.

Sir William Dowell
Born2 August 1825
Died27 December 1912 (1912-12-28) (aged 87)
Bideford, Devon
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1839 – 1890
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHMS Hornet
HMS Barrosa
HMS Euryalus
HMS Topaze
HMS Leander
Cape of Good Hope Station
HMS Hercules
Coast of Ireland Station
Channel Squadron
China Station
Devonport Station
Battles/warsCrimean War
Bombardment of Shimonoseki
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Naval career edit

Dowell joined the Royal Navy in 1839.[1] He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War.[1] He was given command of HMS Hornet and HMS Barrosa and, in the latter ship, took part in the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1863.[1] Later he commanded HMS Euryalus, HMS Topaze and then HMS Leander.[1] He was made Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in 1867 before taking command of HMS Hercules in 1871.[1]

He became Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron in 1877, Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station in 1878, Senior Officer in Command of the Channel Squadron in 1882, Commander-in-Chief, China Station in 1884 and Commander-in-Chief, Devonport in 1888.[1] He retired in 1890.[1]

In retirement he became President of the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum in Plymouth.[2]

Family edit

In 1855 he married Caroline Johnna Pike.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h William Loney RN
  2. ^ Moseley, Brian (February 2011). "Royal British Female Orphan Asylum". The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Plymouth Data. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station
1867–1871
Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station
1878–1880
Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Officer in Command of the Channel Squadron
1882–1883
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, China Station
1884–1885
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
1888–1890
Succeeded by