A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bowyer, William Bohun
BOWYER. (Capt., 1830. f-p., 25; h-p., 19.)
William Bohun Bowyer was born 1 Aug. 1789.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 May, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Mercury 28, Capt. Hon. Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, on the Jersey station, where he attained the rating of Midshipman 12 July following, and was often in action with the French flotilla. Removing, next, into the Aeolus 32, Capt. Lord Wm. FitzRoy, he was present at the capture, by the force under Sir Rich. John Strachan, of the four French ships of the line which had escaped from the battle of Trafalgar, 4 Nov. 1805; and, on joining the Ramillies 74, Capts. Fras. Pickmore and Robt. Yarker, he witnessed, as we are informed. Sir John Borlase Warren’s capture of the Marengo of 80 guns, with the French Admiral Linois on board, and 40-gun frigate Belle Poule, 13 March, 1806; besides sharing in the reduction, in Dec. 1807, of the Danish West India islands of St. Thomas and Santa Croix. In Oct. 1808, Mr. Bowyer was transferred, as Master’s Mate, to the Venus 32, Capt. Jas. Coutts Crawford, one of the two frigates employed at the siege of Vigo, subsequently to the surrender of which place, 27 March, 1809, he was sent with some Spanish gun-boats to assist in destroying the bridge of St. Payo, in order to obstruct the advance of the French army to its relief. On 26 June, 1809, he became an Acting, and, on 4 May, 1810, a confirmed Lieutenant, of the Norge 74, Capt. John Spratt Rainier, attached to the squadron at the defence of Cadiz, where, in 1810-11, being detached on boat service, he was very efficiently engaged against the enemy’s gun-vessels and otherwise. Lieut. Bowyer’s succeeding appointments were – 9 April, 1811, to the Thais 18, Capt. Edw. Scobell, on the coast of Africa, whence his health obliged him to invalid in Feb. 1812 – 20 June following, to the Aquilon 32, Capt. Wm. Bowles, on the Baltic and Brazilian stations – 15 April, 1814, to the Ceres 32, commanded by the same officer – 30 May, 1815, to the Queen Charlotte 100, Capt. Chas. Inglis, fitting for the Mediterranean – and, 3 Oct. following, to the Amphion 32, Capt. W. Bowles, which frigate he left in April, 1816, previous to her departure for South America. From 14 Feb. 1817, until April, 1828, he was next employed as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard, for his services in which capacity he obtained a second promotal commission, 15 Jan. 1823, and was also advanced to Post-rank, out of the Despatch of 18 guns, 17 Feb. 1830. Since that period Capt. Bowyer has been on half-pay.
He married, 25 May, 1819, Frances, daughter of the late Capt. Beck of the Hon. E.I.C. Service.