A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rowley, Joshua Ricketts
ROWLEY, Bart. (Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 1848. f-p., 17; h-p., 28.)
Sir Joshua Ricketts Rowley is second and eldest surviving son of the late Sir Wm. Rowley, Bart., of Tendring Hall, co. Suffolk (whom he succeeded as third Baronet 20 Oct. 1832), by Susannah Edith, daughter of Admiral Sir Robt. Harland, Bart.; and nephew of the late Admiral Sir Chas. Rowley, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.H. His brother, Robt. Chas. Rowley, a Captain in the Army, is married to a daughter of the second Lord Huntingfield. One of his sisters, Sarah Marianne, is the wife of Sir Geo. Dashwood, Bart., of Kirtlington Park, co. Oxford; and another, Susan Arabella, of Colonel Mercer. This officer entered the Navy, 1 Feb. 1802, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Boadicea 38, commanded in the Channel by his uncle Capt. Chas. Rowley. On his return in the Morne Fortunée from the West Indies, where he had taken part in the Centaur 74, Commodore Sir Sam. Hood, in the attack made upon Ste. Lucie in June, 1803, he joined, in the course of that year, the Immortalité 36, Capt. Edw. W. C. R. Owen; under whom, in 1804, he was wounded in an affair with the Boulogne flotilla. He was subsequently, for nearly four years, employed as Midshipman and Master’s Mate in the Ruby 64 and Eagle 74, both commanded by Capt. C. Rowley, and Melpomène frigate, Capt. Peter Parker. While attached to the Eagle he served on shore, in May, 1806, at the reduction of the island of Capri. He obtained his first commission 9 April, 1808; was appointed, 15 June following, to the Daedalus 32, Capt. Sam. Hood Inglefield, on the Jamaica station; and after there serving for about 18 months as Flag-Lieutenant in various ships to his uncle. Vice-Admiral Bartholomew Sam. Rowley, was nominated, 4 July, 1810, Acting-Commander of the Sparrow sloop. He was confirmed in the rank of Commander 8 Aug. following; and between that period and the date of his Post-promotion, 30 Sept. 1812, was employed as such in the Sappho , Shark, and Pelorus. He then joined the Blossom 24, on the Mediterranean station, where he remained for two years. His last appointments were – to the Sybille 44, fitting for the flag of Sir Chas. Rowley, with whom he served at Jamaica from 1820 until 1823 – and 24 June, 1836, to the Cornwallis 74, on the Lisbon station, whence he returned early in 1837. He attained Flag-rank 3 April, 1848.
Sir Joshua Ricketts Rowley is a Deputy-Lieutenant for Suffolk, of which co., in 1841, he was Sheriff. He married, 10 Aug. 1824, Charlotte, only daughter of John Moseley, Esq., of Great Glemham House, co. Suffolk. Agents – Messrs. Chard.