A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fowler, Robert Dashwood
FOWLER. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 17; h-p., 4.)
Robert Dashwood Fowler, born 29 April, 1814, is eldest son of Rear-Admiral R. M. Fowler.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College in Dec. 1826; and embarked, in Dec. 1828, on board the Champion 18, Capts. Geo. Scott and Fras. Vere Cotton, employed off the coast of Africa. From 1830 until 1834 he officiated as Midshipman and Mate, on the North American and Mediterranean stations, of the Winchester 52, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys, North Star 28, Capt. Lord Wm. Paget, Belvidera 42, Capt. Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas, and Rainbow 28, Capt. Sir John Franklin. In the latter ship, during the revolutionary movements of 1832, he appears to have been present at Mesolonghi, and also at Patras, which city, in company with the French forces, he assisted in garrisoning. On 2 Jan. 1837, after a continued servitude in the Mediterranean, as Signal-Mate of the Portland 52, Capt. David Price, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and towards the close of the same year he sailed for the Cape of Good Hope in the Melville 74, Capt. Hon. R. S. Dundas, bearing the flag of Hon. Geo. Elliot. On eventually proceeding to China, Mr. Fowler assisted at the capture, in 1841, of Chuenpee and Tycocktow, co-operated likewise in the attack upon the forts of the Boca Tigris, and commanded the ship’s pinnace in the first advance up the Canton River, where all the forts and batteries as high as Howqua’s Folly were captured and destroyed. His next appointments were – 22 Feb. 1842, to the Formidable 84, flag-ship of Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, in the Mediterranean – 7 Nov. 1845, to the St. Vincent 120, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Chas. Ogle – and 30 April, 1846, to the Queen 110, as Flag-Lieutenant, in the Channel, to Sir Gordon Bremer. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 9 Nov. in the latter year, and is at present on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.