A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bowen, George
BOWEN. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 14; h-p., 34.)
George Bowen entered the Navy, 17 March, 1799, as a Supernumerary, on board the Bulldog bomb, Capts. Adam Drummond and Barrington Dacres, stationed in the Mediterranean, where, on 14 Jan. 1800, he became Midshipman of the Theseus 74, Capt. John Styles. He further served in the Leyden 68, Capt. Wm. Bedford, attached to the fleet in the North Sea; for some time, as Master’s Mate, in the Centurion 50, bearing the flag in the East Indies of Vice-Admiral Peter Rainier; and, in the same capacity also, in the Namur 74, Capt. Lawrence Wm. Halsted, under whom he was present, 4 Nov. 1805, at the capture, by Sir Rich. Strachan’s squadron, of the four French ships of the line escaped from the battle of Trafalgar. On 7 Feb. 1806, Mr. Bowen was made Lieutenant into the Conqueror 74, commanded in the Mediterranean by Capt. Israel Pellew. He afterwards joined, 10 Nov. 1807, the Kangaroo sloop, Capt. John Baker, lying in the Downs – 2 Nov. 1808, the Thames 32, Capt. Hon. Granville Geo. Waldegrave – 5 May, 1809, the Dreadnought 98, bearing the flag in Basque Roads of Rear-Admiral Thos. Sotheby – 20 Jan. 1810, the Dictator 64, Capt. Rich. Harrison Pearson, employed in the North Sea and Baltic – and 2 May following, as First Lieutenant, the Apollo 38, Capts. Bridges Watkinson Taylor and Thos. Graham. In that frigate, during a continuance of four years in the Mediterranean, he saw a vast deal of active service. He assisted in capturing, 13 Feb. [errata 1], 1812, the French frigate-built store-ship Merinos, of 20 guns and 126 men, under the batteries of Corsica, and, on 20 Sept. in the same year, the national xebec Ulysse, of 6 guns – took, 21 Dec. ensuing, in command of the Apollo’s boats, supported by those of the Weasel sloop, under Lieut. Michael Quin, the tower of St. Cataldo, the strongest between the Brindisi and Otranto[1] – obtained mention for his distinguished share in the reduction of the islands of Augusta and Curzola, in the Adriatic, 29 Jan. and 3 Feb. 1813[2] – and witnessed the taking of those of Malero and Paxo, 14 April, 1813, and 13 Feb. 1814. Since his advancement to his present rank, which took place on 15 June in the latter year. Commander Bowen has not been employed.