SIR EDWARD WILLIAM CAMPBELL RICH OWEN,
[Post-Captain of 1798.]
Knight Commander of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath; Commodore, and Commander-in-Chief on the West India station.
This officer is the son of a Captain, R.N., who lost an arm in the service of his country. We truly regret that the Commodore’s absence on a foreign station prevents us from applying for the necessary memoranda, wherewith to frame a correct memoir of so distinguished an officer: we shall, however, endeavour to do justice to his merits, at least as far as the materials in our possession will enable us.
He was educated at Chelsea; made a Lieutenant in 1793; and advanced to the rank of Post-Captain, April 23, 1798. In the course of the same year, if we mistake not, he commanded the Northumberland 74, in the Chanael and Mediterranean; and in 1801, the Nemesis of 28 guns, on the North Sea station. His next appointment was to l’Immortalité frigate, about May, 1802; and, soon after the renewal of the war, we find that ship, in company with the Julousc and Cruiser sloops of war, driving le Commode and l’Inabordable, a French brig and schooner, each mounting 4 guns, on shore near Cape Blanc Nez, where they were taken possession of by the boats of the squadron, under a heavy fire from the enemy’s batteries.
The only operation of any consequence, at all connected with the navy, that occurred on the home station during the year 1803, was the bombardment of Granville, Dieppe, and St. Valery en Caux; the two latter places, by a small force under the orders of Captain Owen, hut without any material effect. There was, however, not the slightest blame to be attributed to any person engaged; on the contrary, it evinced the spirit of the officers and men of the British ships, and drew forth applause and approbation on their respective commanders. The following is a copy of Captain Owen’s report to Lord Keith, dated Sept. 14.
“In obedience to the orders of Rear-Admiral Montagu, I, at eight o’clock this morning, in company with the Perseus and Explosion bombs, commenced an attack on the batteries which protect the town of Dieppe, and vessels building there, in number seventeen.
“The firing was continued on both sides till past eleven, when the lee-
