A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fowke, Richard
FOWKE. (Lieut., 1816. f-p., 14; h-p., 27.)
Richard Fowke entered the Navy, 3 March, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Ocean 98, Capt. Fras. Pender, with whom, and with Capt. Thos. Geo. Shortland, he afterwards served for two years and a half in the Queen 98, on the Mediterranean station. In April, 1809, he became Midshipman of the Barfleur 98, bearing the flag off Lisbon of Hon. Geo. Cranfleld Berkeley; and in 1812-14 he joined the Menelaus 38, Capt. Sir Petar Parker, Vengeur 74, Capt. Tristram Robt. Ricketts, and Linnet 16, Capt. Dan. Pring. On 11 Sept. 1814, after a series of very active operations against the enemy on Lake Champlain, the latter vessel, in common with others composing a squadron under the orders of Commodore Downie, was there taken beneath the hostile batteries of Plattsburgh by a greatly superior force commanded by Commodore Macdonough, to whose concentrated attack, however, she did not surrender until she had sustained a loss of 10 men killed and 14 wounded, and not until some time after all her consorts had been captured. Mr. Fowke, who was officially recommended by Capt. Pring for the assistance he had afforded him on that occasion,[1] was subsequently employed as a Supernumerary, during the summer of 1815, in the Queen Charlotte 100, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Thornbrough at Portsmouth. Obtaining his Commission 8 Aug. 1816, he next served, from 22 Oct. 1828, until 1831, in the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies and Talavera 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Hugh Pigot. He further joined, 4 April, 1844, the Ocean 80, Capt. Peter Fisher, guard-ship at Sheerness; and on 23 Sept. following he removed to the Poictiers 72, guard-ship at Chatham, where he is still serving. Agents- Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1814, p. 2337.