A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Robertson, Bowen Robert
ROBERTSON. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)
Bowen Robert Robertson, born 21 May, 1791, is son of the late Robt. Robertson, Esq., of Milford, by Laetitia, daughter of Geo. Webb, Esq., Hackard, co. Pembroke, who married Anne, daughter of the Rev. Jas. Bowen, Rector of Langum; and is first-cousin of the present Chas. Wheeler Townsend Webb Bowen, of Camrose House, co. Pembroke. His elder and only brother, George, was an officer in the Army.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 Sept. 1800, as L.M., on board the Aimwell, Lieut.-Commander Skinner, in which vessel and in the Chapman armed ship, Capt. Thos. Browne, he continued employed on the Milford station until Nov. 1801. From March to Nov. 1802, and from May, 1803, to Aug. 1804, he served, the latter part of the time in the capacity of Midshipman, in the Insolent 12, Lieut.-Commander Nicholas Kortwright, and Spitfire 18, Capt. Robt. Keen. On 13 Nov. 1805, while proceeding in the Woodlark 10, Lieut.-Commander Robt. Innes, to join the Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley (under whom he had been serving for about 14 months in the Ruby 64, off Cadiz and in the Channel and North Sea), he was wrecked, and taken prisoner, near Calais. During his consequent sojourn in France he made several attempts to escape. On one occasion he had actually reached the coast, when he was apprehended, carried back several hundred miles in chains, and confined on bread and water. At length, however, after he had been incarcerated in as many as 80 prisons, and had undergone the greatest hardships, he succeeded, 16 March, 1811, in accomplishing his flight. He crossed the North Sea in an open boat, and on his arrival in England was ordered out to the Baltic in the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee, of which ship he beame an acting and a confirmed Lieutenant 1 June and 6 July in the same year, 1811. The Dreadnought being paid off in Feb. 1812, he was next, from 2 Feb. 1813 until she was put out of commission 26 Aug. 1815, employed in the West Indies, South America, and Channel, on board the Rhin 38, Capt. Chas. Malcolm. While in that ship he frequently landed papers on the coast of France, assisted at the capture of many of the enemy’s vessels, and for his boat and general services was strongly recommended for promotion. Since he left her, although anxious for employment, he has been suffered to remain on half-pay.
The Lieutenant is a Magistrate for co. Pembroke. He married, in 1819, Caroline Amelia, youngest daughter of the late John Lloyd, Esq., of Foes-y-bleiddiad, Mabws, and Dale Castle, co. Pembroke, High Sheriff for Pembrokeshire in 1785 and for Cardiganshire in 1803, and sister-in-law of Sir Geo. Cooper, Chief-Justice at Madras. Agents – Messrs. Chard.