A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bowie, John
BOWIE. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 44; h-p., 0.)
John Bowie entered the Navy, 13 March, 1803, as A.B., on board the Ferreter gun-brig, Lieut.Commandep Henry Weir, in which vessel he served, the last two years as Second Master, until Feb. 1807, on the North Sea station, where he assisted in beating off two French man-of-war brigs of very superior force. He was next employed, until Dec. 1809, as Master and Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Linnet brig, Lieut.-Commander John Treacey, under whom he contributed to the capture, 16 Jan. and 30 Aug- 1808, in spite of considerable resistance, of the privateers Le Courier, of 18 guns and 60 men, and Foudroyant of 10 guns and 25 men; and further attended the expedition to the Walcheren, He subsequently officiated as Master and Acting-Lieutenant, for two years, of the Recruit 18, Capts. Murray, John Cookesley, and Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, employed in the Channel and off Newfoundland; and from Nov. 1811, until Dec. 1813, during which period (on 20 July, 1812) he was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant, appears to have been very actively engaged in gun-boat co-operations with the patriots on the coast of Spain, particularly at the defence of Cadiz and Tarifa – on the shores also of Catalonia, where he commanded a division of the flotilla, and was present at the siege of Tarragona – and in various affairs up the river Ebro, which terminated in his being severely wounded and his gun-boat blown up. Mr. Bowie was next, in 1813-15, appointed, in succession, to the Malta 84, Royal Sovereign 100, and Tonnant 80, flag-ships on the Mediterranean, Channel, and Cork stations of Sir Benj. Hallowell. He removed to the command, 13 May, 1817, of the Minerva, and subsequently to that of the Kite, Revenue cruizers; and from 31 Oct- 1820, until the attainment of his present rank, 9 Nov. 1846, filled the appointment of Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard. Agent – J. Hinxman.