board the Theseus 74, commanded by Captain Augustus Montgomery. We subsequently find him serving in the Captain 74, Daphne 20, Acasta frigate, and Driver sloop of war; on the Channel, Leeward Islands, Jamaica, and North Sea stations. In July 1803, he was appointed a Lieutenant of the Cambrian frigate, employed on the coast of North America; and his commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, Aug. 30, in the same year.
From that ship. Lieutenant Bowles removed into the Leander 50, bearing the flag of Sir Andrew Mitchell, K.B. with whom he continued until advanced to the rank of Commander, Jan. 22, 1806.
In Mar. 1807, Captain Bowles obtained the command of the Zebra bomb-vessel, and in her he was several times warmly engaged with the Danish batteries and flotilla, during the siege of Copenhagen[1]. His promotion to post rank took place, Oct. 13, 1807.
In Dec. 1808, the subject of this sketch was appointed acting Captain of the Medusa frigate; and in the following year he held the temporary command of the Warspite 74. In May, 1810, we again find him acting in the Medusa, and serving on the North coast of Spain, where he assisted at the destruction of various French batteries containing about 100 heavy guns, the details of which important service have been given in our memoirs of Sir Robert Mends and the Hon. Captain Aylmer[2]; both of whom acknowledged themselves much indebted to Captain Bowles far his “zeal, ability, and indefatigable activity,” as second in command of the naval brigade employed on shore, in conjunction with the patriotic troops under Brigadier-General Porlier.
In 1811, Captain Bowles was appointed to the Aquilon 32; which frigate was successively employed on the Channel, North Sea, and Baltic stations; under the orders of Lord Gambier, Admiral William Young, and Sir James Saumarez, Bart.
