Queen Charlotte, a first-rate, bearing that nobleman’s flag. The professional skill and steady conduct displayed by him during the arduous conflict of June 1, 1794, secured the veteran Admiral’s lasting esteem, and obtained for him the rank of Lieutenant; by which the door was opened for his future advancement in the navy: whilst the different Captains, at the suggestion of his Lordship, and to evince their high opinion of Mr. Bowen, appointed him their agent for the prizes taken on that memorable day[1].
Our officer’s first commission was for the Queen Charlotte, of which ship we find him the first Lieutenant in Lord Bridport’s action off l’Orient, June 23, 1795[2], on which occasion, she had 4 men slain and 32 wounded. Mr. Bowen, for his conduct on that day, was shortly after made a Commander; but we are not aware of his having received any appointment until Sept. 2 following, when he obtained post-rank in the Prince George of 98 guns, fitting for the flag of Rear-Admiral Christian, who had recently been appointed to the command of a squadron destined to attack the French and Dutch settlements in the West Indies. The late period of the season to which this expedition had been protracted, occasioned the most disastrous result, as already stated under the head of Sir Charles M. Pole[3]. The Prince George lost her rudder, and was otherwise much disabled; in consequence of which, the Rear-Admiral, accompanied by Captain Bowen, removed into the Glory, of similar force.
- ↑ At the commencement of the action, the Earl desired Mr. Bowen to lay the Queen Charlotte close alongside of the Montague, an immense 3-decker, bearing the flag of the French Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Bowen knew his duty, and performed it; he conducted the ship so close under the stern of the enemy, that the fly of the tri-coloured ensign brushed the main and mizen shrouds of the Queen Charlotte, as she poured her larboard broadside into her opponent’s starboard quarter. The Montague does not appear to have been prepared for action on that side; her ports were down, and it was some time before she returned a gun; the effect upon this unfortunate ship, as acknowledged by the republican Admiral, was the loss of 300 men killed and wounded. Mr. Bowen, addressing Earl Howe frequently during the battle by his title, was heard by the other officers to receive from his Lordship this grateful and animated reply:
“Mr. Bowen, you call me, my Lord! and my Lord! you yourself deserve to be a Prince.”
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 246, et seq.
- ↑ See Vol. I. note †, at p. 89, et seq.
