A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Otway, Robert Jocelyn
OTWAY. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 19; h-p., 7.)
Robert Jocelyn Otway is youngest son of the Rev. J. Sam. Otway; and nephew of the late Admiral Sir Robt. Otway, Bart., G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy 3 May, 1821; passed his examination in 1827; and was made Lieutenant, 13 Nov. 1828, into the Sapphire 28, Capt. Henry Dundas, on the South American station, whence he returned home and was paid off in 1830. His succeeding appointments were – 8 Oct. 1832, for nearly three years, to the Spartiate 76, Capt. Robt. Tait, successive flag-ship of Sir Michael Seymour and Sir Graham Eden Hamond, again in South America – 22 Aug. 1840, to the Calcutta 84, Capts. Sir Sam. Roberts and Geo. Fred. Rich, with whom he served, in the Mediterranean and off Lisbon, until paid off at the close of 1842, the chief part of the time as First-Lieutenant – and, 16 May, 1843, in the latter capacity, to the Castor 36, Capt. Chas. Graham, fitting for the East Indies. In Dec. 1845, being at the time at New Zealand, Lieut. Otway landed in command of 188 officers, seamen, and marines belonging to the latter ship, and on 11 of the following month, after having most usefully participated for three weeks in a series of trying operations (more particularly alluded to in our memoir of Capt. Graham), assisted, and was officially mentioned for his conduct, at the storming and capture, notwithstanding a desperate resistance of four hours, of a strongly fortified pah belonging to a rebel chieftain named Kawiti. He was in consequence promoted to the rank of Commander by commission bearing date the day of the occurrence.[1] He returned to England in the course of the same year, and is now on half-pay.
Commander Otway married, 17 Aug. 1836, Anne Digby, youngest daughter of the late Sir Hugh Crofton, Bart., of Mohill House, co. Leitrim, by whom he has issue. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1846, pp. 2345, 2346, 2348.