A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dowden, William Gibbs
DOWDEN. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 13; h-p., 31.)
William Gibbs Dowden entered the Navy, 30 Sept. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Repulse 74, Capts. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge and John Halliday, with whom he successively served, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, until Feb. 1811. The Repulse, during that period, bore a part in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, 22 July, 1805 – was with Sir John Duckworth at the passage of the Dardanells, in Feb. 1807 – accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren, in Aug. 1803 – and, on 30 Aug. 1810, most gallantly rescued the Philomel sloop from capture, by interposing herself between that vessel and an advanced division of the Toulon fleet, which she compelled to put back. After a further attachment to the Montagu 74, Capt. John Halliday, and Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, Mr. Dowden was promoted, 16 June, 1812, to a Lieutenancy in the Cephalus 18. Being next appointed, 27 Nov. 1813, to the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Hon. Geo. Heneage Lawrence Dundas, he witnessed the unsuccessful attack on Leghorn, in Dec. of the same year, and was present, in March and April, 1814, at the surrender of the fortress of Santa Maria, with the enemy’s other forts and defences in the Gulf of Spezia, and also of the town of Genoa. On 17 June, 1815, Mr. Dowden, who had been appointed, 24 Dec. 1814, to the Pilot 18, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, contributed to the defeat, near Cape Corse, of the French corvette Légère of 28 guns, who made off at the close of a valiant conflict of two hours, in which the British vessel sustained a loss, besides being otherwise disabled, of 1 man killed and 15 wounded, and the Frenchman of 22 killed and 79 wounded. He has been on half-pay since 12 July, 1816. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.