William Dowell (Royal Navy officer)

Sir William Dowell
Born 2 August 1825
Died 27 December 1912
Bideford, Devon
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service 1839 - 1890
Rank Admiral
Commands held HMS Hornet
HMS Barrosa
HMS Euryalus
HMS Topaze
HMS Leander
Cape of Good Hope Station
HMS Hercules
Coast of Ireland Station
Channel Squadron
China Station
Plymouth Command
Battles/wars Crimean War
Bombardment of Shimonoseki
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell GCB (2 August 1825 – 27 December 1912) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.

Naval career

Dowell joined the Royal Navy in 1839.[1] He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War.[1] He was given command of HMS Hornet and HMS Barrosa and, in the latter ship, took part in the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1863.[1] Later he commanded HMS Euryalus, HMS Topaze and then HMS Leander.[1] He was made Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in 1867 before taking command of HMS Hercules in 1871.[1]

He became Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron in 1877, Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station in 1878, Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron in 1882, Commander-in-Chief, China Station in 1884 and Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in 1888.[1] He retired in 1890.[1]

In retirement he became President of the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum in Plymouth.[2]

Family

In 1855 he married Caroline Johnna Pike.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 William Loney RN
  2. Moseley, Brian (February 2011). "Royal British Female Orphan Asylum". The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Plymouth Data. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Baldwin Walker
Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station
18671871
Succeeded by
Sir John Commerell
Preceded by
Henry Hillyar
Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station
1878–1880
Succeeded by
Richard Hamilton
Preceded by
Lord Hood
Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet
18821883
Succeeded by
The Duke of Edinburgh
Preceded by
Sir George Willes
Commander-in-Chief, China Station
18841885
Succeeded by
Sir Richard Hamilton
Preceded by
Lord John Hay
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
18881890
Succeeded by
The Duke of Edinburgh