A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Clowes, Thomas Ball
CLOWES. (Captain, 1823. f-p., 15; h-p., 31.)
Thomas Ball Clowes, born 30 June, 1787, at Wingham, co. Kent, is son of the late Surgeon Clowes, of Canterbury.
This officer entered the Navy, 17 June, 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Overyssel 64, Capt. John Bazely, flag-ship in the Downs of Vice-Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge; removed for a brief period, in the early part of 1802, to the Amazon 38, Capt. Sam. Sutton; and, from 29 May, 1804, until Nov. 1807, served, as Midshipman, in the Leda 38, Capt. Robt. Honyman. After experiencing several warm collisions with the Boulogne flotilla, he took part in the reduction, in Jan. 1806, of the Cape of Good Hope, was next present at the attacks on Maldonado and Monte Video, and on his return from a second visit to the Cape, whither he had been sent in charge of a prize, joined in the operations against Copenhagen. He subsequently served, in the Downs and Mediterranean, on board the Canada 74, Capt. John Harvey, and Leonidas and Active 38’s, Capts. Jas. Dunbar and Jas. Alex. Gordon; passed his examination 5 April, 1809; commanded, as Master’s Mate of the St. Fiorenzo 36, Capt. Henry Matson, a gun-boat in the ensuing expedition against Flushing; became, 6 Dec. 1809, Acting-Lieutenant of the Clyde 38, Capt. Edw. W. C. R. Owen; and, on 26 of the same month, was presented by the Admiralty with his first commission. Mr. Clowes’ next appointment was, in May, 1810, to the Hamadryad 36, Capt. Sir Thos. Staines, from which ship, after serving off St. Helena, and on the North American and Irish stations, he was promoted to the rank of Commander 23 March, 1812. We find him, until he invalided in Dec. 1814, next holding command of the Goshawk and Sparrowhawk sloops, in the Mediterranean, whither, in the former vessel, he escorted a convoy during the summer of 1812. He was afterwards, from 22 May, 1821, until posted, 16 May, 1823, actively employed in the Rose 18, in the Levant, at a time when hostilities raged between the Turks and Greeks. Since the date last-mentioned Capt. Clowes has been on half-pay.
He is married, and has issue two daughters. Agents – Case and Loudonsack.