A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bowen, Augustus Frederick James
BOWEN. (Lieutenant, 1836.)
Augustus Frederick James Bowen, born in 1812, is son of the late Capt. Wm. Hawkwell Bowen, R.N., by Susannah, sister of the present Capt. Sir Wm. Geo. Parker, Bart., R.N.; and godson and protege of H.R.H. the late Duke of Sussex. He had two uncles of his own name, both Post-Captains, one of whom, the gallant Rich. Bowen, commanded the Terpsichore 32, under Lord Nelson, at Teneriffe, and met a glorious death while spiking the guns at the Mole.
This officer entered the Navy in 1821, and while attached, with Capt. Wm. Fitzwilliam Owen, to the Leven, Barracouta, and Albatross, assisted in surveying the continent of Africa, the islands of Madagascar and France, the Seychelles, and parts of India and Arabia. He also visited South America, and endured many hardships consequent on the Ashantee war and other causes. He next, in 1825, joined the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship at the Nore of Sir Robt. Moorsom, and, after holding command for some time of her tender, became attached to the Briton 46, Capts. Gordon and Seymour, in which frigate he made a voyage to Russia. He was selected in 1827 to assist Capt. Henry Wolsey Bayfield in the survey of the river St. Lawrence and coast of Labrador; passed his examination for seamanship in 1830; was in Canada throughout the whole period of the rebellion; came home, after repeated applications, and passed his examination at the Royal Naval College early in 1836; was promoted, in consequence of the long and arduous nature of his services, on 30 April in the same year; and resumed immediately afterwards the survey of the coast of Labrador and the southern part of the St. Lawrence. He obtained leave in 1840 to return to England, and is at present unemployed. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.