William Dowell (Royal Navy officer)
Royal Navy Admiral (1825–1912)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell GCB (2 August 1825 – 27 December 1912) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Devonport.
Sir William Dowell | |
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| Born | 2 August 1825 |
| Died | 27 December 1912 (aged 87) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
Branch |  Royal Navy |
Service years | 1839 – 1890 |
Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | 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 Devonport Station |
Conflicts | Crimean War Bombardment of Shimonoseki |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
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, Senior Officer in Command of the Channel Squadron in 1882, Commander-in-Chief, China Station in 1884 and Commander-in-Chief, Devonport 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]