A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lowcay, William
LOWCAY. (Retired Commander, 1847. f-p., 25; h-p., 26.)
William Lowcay, born 21 Sept. 1787, at Chatham, co. Kent, is brother of Commander Henry Lowcay, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 22 Aug. 1796, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Duke 98,[1] Capt. John Holloway, under whom he continued to serve as Midshipman, on the Channel station, until April, 1798. He re-embarked, in July, 1802, as Master’s Mate, on board the Pique 36, Capt. Wm. Cumberland; and, in July, 1804, after having been for 12 months attached to the Defiance 74, Capt. Philip Chas. Durham, he joined the Ajax 74, Capts. Lord Viscount Garlics, Christopher Laroche, Wm. Brown, and John Pilfold. He was in consequence present, during the year 1805, in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, also in Admiral Comwallis’ pursuit of the French fleet into Brest, and in the battle of Trafalgar. After further serving with Capt. Laroche in the Uranie 38, and with Capt. Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin in the Audacious 74, he was appointed, 21 Sept. 1807, and 3 March, 1808, Sub-Lieutenant of the Contest and Encounter gun-brigs, Lieut.Commanders John Gregory and Jas. Hugh Talbot. In the boats belonging to the former of those vessels Mr. Lowcay was engaged in frequent attacks on the enemy’s convoys on the French coast; and on one occasion he was slightly wounded. Being created a full Lieutenant, 25 March, 1809, of the Princess of Orange 74, Capt. Fras. Beauman, he accompanied the ensuing expedition to the Walcheren, where he was lent to the gun-boat service. On his return he was successively, until the peace of 1814, employed, always on the Home station, in the Crane 18, Capt. D. Winter, Salvador del Mundo, flagship of Sir Robt. Calder, Clarence 74, Capt. Henry Vansittart, Gladiator 44, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Wm. Hargood, and Teazer 14, Capt. Hargrave. He served next, from 27 April to 15 June, 1815, in the Rolla 10, commanded at Plymouth by Capt. Robt. Julyan; and from 29 Nov. 1820 until 5 July, 1833, had charge of a station in the Coast Guard. He accepted his present rank 9 April, 1847.
Commander Lowcay married, 14 June, 1814, Mary Anne, sister of Capt. John Lawrence, R.N., C.B., and by that lady, who died 1 Dec. 1844, has issue two sons and one daughter.
- ↑ The Duke was one of the refractory ships during the mutiny at Spithead.