A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rowlands, John Samuel
ROWLANDS. (Lieut., 1813. f-p., 10; h-p., 32.)
John Samuel Rowlands, born 18 July, 1789, at Chester, is eldest son of the late Griffith Rowlands, Esq., who practised, for forty years as a Surgeon in that city, and acquired considerable reputation. His brother, Richard, served in the 22nd Regt., and died Barrack-Master at Dominica.
This officer entered the Navy, in Oct. 1805, on board the Raisonnable 64, Capt. Josias Rowley, part of the force employed at the ensuing reduction of the Cape of Good Hope. After the surrender of that colony he returned to England as Midshipman in the prize-frigate Volontaire, Capt. Hon. Josceline Percy; and on his arrival was received, 2 July, 1806, on board the Royal William, Capt. Hon. Courtenay Boyle. Becoming attached, 4 Aug. in the same year, to the Colossus 74, Capts. Jas. Nicoll Morris and Thos. Alexander, he partook in that ship of much general service, was frequently in pursuit of the enemy, and was stationed for nine months off Cape Finisterre, and for nine off Toulon. In the early part of 1809 he was ordered a passage home in the Impérieuse 38, Capt. Lord Cochrane, for the purpose of joining the Amazon 38, Capt. Wm. Parker, under whom he was for a long time most actively employed in co-operation with the patriots on the north coast of Spain, where he came repeatedly into action with the enemy’s batteries. He continued in the Amazon as Master’s Mate – cruizing latterly in the Bay of Biscay – until Feb. 1812. He then joined the Salvador del Mundo, Capt. Nash, lying at Plymouth; and in the_ ensuing spring, having passed his examination, again sailed, in the Medusa 32, Capt. Hon. Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, for the north coast of Spain. On the night of 4 June, 1812, we find him assisting in the boats under Lieut. Josiah Thompson at the capture and destruction, in the harbour of Arcasson, of La Dorade French store-ship of 14 guns and 86 men, after a desperate struggle, in which the British had 5 men wounded, and the assailed, who had hailed the latter in their approach, and were in every way prepared for the attack, 63 killed and drowned. On this occasion Mr. Rowlands steered the barge, the first boat up, alongside the enemy’s vessel. He was subsequently present in the attacks upon Guetaria and Santander. At the latter place he landed with a party of seamen, marines, and artillery under Lieut. Chas. Henry Crooke on the rock opposite to the castle, which was for three days successively cannonaded. While on the Spanish coast he was otherwise actively employed. On the return home of the Medusa with despatches from Lord Wellington he proceeded, in the Niemen 38, Capt. Sam. Pym, to join on promotion the Impétueux 74, bearing the flag at Lisbon of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin. In the boats of that ship he was on more than one occasion sent with the troops up the river Tagus to Villa Franca. On 29 March, 1813, he was confirmed a Lieutenant (25 days after he had been ordered to act as such) in the Jasper 10, Capt. Henry Jenkinson, also on the Lisbon station. He invalided 4 Feb. 1814, and was lastly, from 23 July in the same year until 1 Dec. 1815, employed on board the Martial 12, commanded by Capt. Henry Forbes, for a short time by himself, and by Capt. Jas. Leach. While in personal charge of the sloop Mr. Rowlands captured two smugglers in the English Channel. He afterwards, under Capt. Leach, visited the West Indies, was sent in a prize slaver to Nassau, and cruized off Cherbourg prior to the surrender of Napoleon Buonaparte. Since he left the Martial he has been on half-pay.