A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Towers, Robert

1976297A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Towers, RobertWilliam Richard O'Byrne

TOWERS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 10; h-p., 32.)

Robert Towers died in May, 1847.

This officer entered the Navy, 9 July, 1805, as Midshipman, on board the Africaine 38, Capt. Thos. Manby, on the West India station; where, in the following Aug., he removed to the Atlas 74, Capt. Sam. Pym. In that ship, of which he became Master’s Mate and Second Master, he fought in the action off St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806; and was subsequently, until Feb. 1809, employed off the port of Cadiz under the flag of Rear-Admiral John Child Purvis. He was then ordered to act as Master in the Delight sloop, Capts. John Brett Purvis and Lord Balgonie. In the ensuing June he was present at the reduction of the islands of Ischia and Procida. He was next, from Oct. 1810 until Nov. 1811, and from the latter date until July, 1815, employed on the Channel, Mediterranean, and North American stations, as Master’s Mate in the Romulus troop-ship, Capt. Lord Balgonie, and as Midshipman, Acting-Lieutenant, and Midshipman, in the Ganymede 26, Capt. J. B. Purvis (to whose memoir refer), and Wm. M‘Culloch. He then took up a commission bearing date 21 Feb. 1815; and did not afterwards go afloat.