Robert Otway

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Sir Robert Waller Otway, Bt
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Southern Cross

Napoleonic War and later supported the Brazilian cause during the Brazilian War of Independence
. During his long service, Otway saw action across Europe and in North America and was rewarded in his retirement with a knighthood, baronetcy, and position as a courtier within the Royal Household.

Early career

Otway was born in the family home of

Mediterranean, West Indies, and along the West African Coast. During this time he served on board HMS Phaeton, HMS Trusty and HMS Blonde, making lieutenant in the sloop HMS Falcon
.

French Revolutionary Wars

The eruption of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 brought Otway back to Europe as a lieutenant on the second-rate ship of the line HMS Impregnable with the Channel Fleet. Impregnable was flagship of Rear-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell, who was later to prove an important influence on Otway's career. Within a year of joining the large ship, Otway saw his first action in the massive fleet engagement of the Glorious First of June. Otway distinguished himself in the action by going aloft despite the heavy fire of the French fleet to repair the damaged fore topsail yard and thus allow Impregnable to engage the enemy closer.[1] In the aftermath of the action, Caldwell publicly thanked Otway for his services and appointed him first lieutenant on Caldwell's new flagship, HMS Majestic.

With Majestic in the West Indies as personal favourite of the commander-in-chief, Otway was soon promoted again, becoming

Hugh Pigot, and turned her over to the Spanish.[1]

Admiral

Nelson lead the inshore squadron through the Sound yielded immediate results but when Admiral Parker lost his nerve and ordered Nelson to withdraw, the battle seemed in vain. Otway successfully mediated, mitigating the terms of Parker's signal and then taking a boat to Nelson on HMS Elephant and supporting Nelson's famous "failure" to see the signal.[1]

Napoleonic Wars

In the aftermath of the victory and the ensuing

Peace of Amiens, Otway spent a period ashore in ill-health. During this time he married Clementina Holloway, daughter of Admiral John Holloway, with whom he would have twelve children.[1] By 1804 he was sufficiently recovered to take command of HMS Montagu off Brest under Admiral William Cornwallis and whilst on this duty he participated in a brief artillery duel with the Alexandre during the French attempt to break the blockade in August 1805. The following year he participated in Sir Richard Strachan's operations in the Atlantic to intercept a French squadron eventually apprehended by another British squadron in the West Indies. In 1807, Otway sailed to Calabria to provide material and military aid to partisans and did the same in 1808 in Catalonia at the outbreak of the Peninsular War.[1]

Taking over

siege.[1]

In 1814, Otway convoyed merchant ships to Quebec and whilst in Canada was dispatched as a rear-admiral on a special commission to prepare the small ships squadron on Lake Champlain. The commission failed and the squadron was totally defeated at the Battle of Lake Champlain in September although Otway was not present.[1]

Brazil and retirement

The grave of Admiral Robert Otway, Kensal Green Cemetery

In 1818, three years after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, Otway was made

Baronet of Brighton for his services. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1837.[2] He died suddenly in 1846, survived by his wife and eight of their twelve children. His two eldest sons had died in service with the Navy and so the baronetcy passed to his third son George Otway and then fourth son Arthur Otway in turn.[1]

Death

He died on 12 May 1846. He is buried in the northwest quadrant in the centre of Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

See also

  • O'Byrne, William Richard (1849). "Otway, Robert Waller" . A Naval Biographical Dictionary . John Murray – via Wikisource.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Laughton, John Knox (1895). "Otway, Robert Waller" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 42. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ^ William Loney RN

External links

Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Brighton)
1831–1846 		Succeeded by
Military offices
New command Commander-in-Chief, South America Station
1826–1829 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, The Nore
1837–1840 		Succeeded by
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