A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lowe, Gower
LOWE. (Commander, 1840. f-p., 23; h-p., 8.)
Gower Lowe is son of Capt. Abraham Lowe, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 April, 1816, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Larne 20, commanded by his father, with whom he served in the Channel until Feb. 1817, in the course of which month he entered the Royal Naval College. He re-embarked, in April, 1819, as Midshipman, on board the Hind 20, Capt. Sir Chas. Burrard, and during the next three years was actively employed in the suppression of smuggling. He then joined the Ranger 28, Capts. Peter Fisher and Lord Henry Fred. Tbynne, successively stationed at Nevrfoundland, and in the North Sea, West Indies, Mediterranean, and Channel; and in July, 1825, having passed his examination in 1823, he became Mate of the Harlequin 18, Capts. Jas. Scott and Chas. Elliot. Of that vessel, on her arrival in the West Indies, he was appointed, in Feb. 1816, Acting First-Lieutenant. Being confirmed to her, 2 Dec. following, he continued in the Harlequin until transferred, in Jan. 1829, in a similar capacity, to the Harpy 10, Capts. Chas. Rich and Joseph Pafford Dickson Larcom, also on the West India station; where, in the summer of 1830, he removed to the Slaney 20, Capt. Chas. Parker. Returning to England in Jan. 1831, he was next, 7 July, 1834, appointed First-Lieutenant of the Rose 18, Capt. Wm. Barrow, with the boats of which sloop under his orders he was twice, it appears, engaged with pirates in the Straits of Malacca. In the autumn of 1837, Capt. Barrow having invalided at the Cape of Good Hope, Mr. Lowe was sent home in personal command of the Rose. After eight months of half-pay he became in succession Senior, 11 July, 1838, and 11 May, 1839, of the Tribune 24 and Revenge 76, Capts. Chas. Hamlyn Williams and Hon. Wm. Waldegrave, employed on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations. For his conduct in the latter ship during the operations on the coast of Syria, where he commanded her boats at the landing of the troops at Gebail, again had charge of them at the capture of Sidon, and served at the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre, he was advanced to his present rank by commission dated 4 Nov. 1840. He continued in the Revenge, in discharge of the duties of Second-Captain, until paid off in Feb. 1842; and since 21 Nov. 1846 has been in command of the Resistance 42, troop-ship.