Josias Rowley
Sir Josias Rowley, Bt | |
|---|---|
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight of the Military Order of Maria Theresa[1] |
Birth and family
Rowley was born in 1765 the second son of
He joined the Royal Navy in 1778, age 13, on HMS Suffolk in the West Indies, under the command of his uncle, Sir Joshua Rowley.[3][4]
Promoted to
In 1808 he became commander-in-chief,
In March 1810 he moved into HMS Boadicea (38 guns) and transported a larger landing party to Réunion and captured the island.[3] Meanwhile, a force led by Captain Samuel Pym RN was being out-flanked by French frigates attacking Grand Port, Mauritius.[3] HMS Africaine was captured by the French frigates Iphigénie and Astrée in the engagement.[3] Rowley then re-captured Africaine the same day.[3] Vice-Admiral Albemarle Bertie arrived on 29 November and took the surrender of Mauritius on 3 December 1810.[3]
Rowley was then given command of
In the summer of 1815, age 50, with his flagship
Death at home
He died on 10 January 1842, about age 76, in the Mount Campbell family estate at
In literature
The 1809-1810 campaign was used by author Patrick O'Brian as the setting for the fourth in the series of Aubrey–Maturin series books, The Mauritius Command. The fictional Captain Jack Aubrey takes the place of Rowley in the novel.
See also
- O'Byrne, William Richard (1849). . . John Murray – via Wikisource.
References
- ^ "Ritter-Orden: Militärischer Maria-Theresien-Orden", Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Kaiserthumes Österreich, 1836, p. 15, retrieved 20 September 2020
- ^ Burkes Peerages
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24225. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ "Admiral Sir Josias Rowley (1765-1842) | Royal Museums Greenwich".
- ^ Hiscocks, Richard (17 January 2016). "Cape Commander-in-Chief 1795-1852". morethannelson.com. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
Bibliography
- Josias Rowley's service record and Last Will and Testament are held in the British National Archives
- Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
