William Rowley (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir William Rowley KB
(c. 1690 – 1 January 1768) was a British naval commander who distinguished himself during the War of the Austrian Succession
and also became a Member of Parliament
.
as a volunteer in 1704. Promoted to Captain
in 1716, he was given command of HMS Bideford and then transferred to HMS Lively in 1719. Appointed to HMS Barfleur
in 1741, he greatly distinguished himself in the Battle of Toulon
which was lost to the Spanish in 1744. He became Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Fleet in the Mediterranean in 1745 and successfully kept the Spanish and French fleets out of the area.
He became Rear-Admiral
in 1747, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
in 1751 and Admiral of the Fleet
on December 17, 1762.
Rowley entered Parliament in 1750 as member for Taunton
, and represented that town until 1754. in that year he was chosen to represent Portsmouth
until 1761.
He died in 1768 and is presumed to have been buried at Stoke-by-Nayland
in Suffolk
.
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir William Rowley KB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(c. 1690 – 1 January 1768) was a British naval commander who distinguished himself during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
and also became a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Naval career
Born the second son of William Rowley and his wife, Elizabeth Dawson, Rowley joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a volunteer in 1704. Promoted to Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
in 1716, he was given command of HMS Bideford and then transferred to HMS Lively in 1719. Appointed to HMS Barfleur
HMS Barfleur (1697)
HMS Barfleur was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 10 August 1697.She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Deptford, relaunching on 27 June 1716. Barfleur was hulked in 1764, and eventually broken up in 1783....
in 1741, he greatly distinguished himself in the Battle of Toulon
Battle of Toulon (1744)
The naval Battle of Toulon or Battle of Cape Sicié took place on 22 February 1744 in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Toulon, France. A combined Franco-Spanish fleet fought off Britain's Mediterranean fleet...
which was lost to the Spanish in 1744. He became Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Fleet in the Mediterranean in 1745 and successfully kept the Spanish and French fleets out of the area.
He became Rear-Admiral
Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom is a now honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral...
in 1747, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy.Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. The Lords...
in 1751 and Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
on December 17, 1762.
Rowley entered Parliament in 1750 as member for Taunton
Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)
Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset...
, and represented that town until 1754. in that year he was chosen to represent Portsmouth
Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Portsmouth was a borough constituency based upon the borough of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.- History :...
until 1761.
He died in 1768 and is presumed to have been buried at Stoke-by-Nayland
Stoke-by-Nayland
Stoke by Nayland in the English county of Suffolk, lies close to the border with Essex in what is sometimes referred to as Constable Country. It contains a church, St Mary, part of the Deanery of in the Diocese of Chelmsford...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
Family
William Rowley married Arabella Dawson and had five four sons and one daughter. Several of his descendants reached high positions in the Navy:- his son Sir Joshua Rowley, 1st BaronetSir Joshua Rowley, 1st BaronetVice-Admiral Sir Joshua Rowley was the eldest son of Admiral Sir William Rowley. Sir Joshua was probably born on 1 May 1730 at the family home of Tendring Hall in Suffolk. Rowley served with distinction in a number of battles throughout his career and was highly praised by his contemporaries...
, for whom the Rowley BaronetcyRowley BaronetsThere have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Rowley family, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
was created. - his grandson Admiral Josias RowleyJosias RowleyAdmiral Sir Josias Rowley, 1st Baronet GCB, GCMG , known as "The Sweeper of the Seas", was a naval officer who commanded the campaign that captured the French Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius in 1810.-Naval career:...
, 1st Baronet GCB, GCMG (1765–1842), known as "The Sweeper of the Seas". - his grandson Admiral Charles RowleySir Charles Rowley, 1st BaronetAdmiral Sir Charles Rowley GCB GCH was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.-Naval career:...
, 1st Baronet, GCB, GCH (1770–1845) - his grandson Admiral of the Fleet Sir George MartinGeorge Martin (Royal Navy officer)Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Martin GCB, GCMG was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
, GCB, GCMG (1764–1847)