Erasmus Gower

Sir Erasmus Gower
Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower
Born	3 December 1742 Cilgerran, Wales
Died	21 June 1814 Hambledon, Hampshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral

Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (3 December 1742 – 21 June 1814) was a naval officer and colonial governor.

Gower joined the Royal Navy in 1755 and served under Byron's command on HMS Dolphin from 1764 to 1766. He was promoted to lieutenant, serving with distinction under Commander Philip Carteret from 1766 to 1769. He then served in the Falkland Islands, West Indies, Mediterranean, the East and Newfoundland until 1792, when he declined a baronetcy and was knighted.

In 1792, Gower was named Commander of the first British diplomatic mission to imperial China and sailed in the 64-gun HMS Lion. This expedition was headed by Lord George Macartney. They were also accompanied by East Indiaman Hindostan, chartered from the East India Company for the mission. Although the Macartney Embassy returned to London without obtaining any concession from China, the mission could have been termed a success because it brought back detailed observations.

George Staunton, Secretary to the Embassy, was charged with producing the official account of the expedition after their return. This multi-volume work was taken chiefly from the papers of Lord Maccauley and from the papers of Commander Gower. Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Royal Society, was responsible for selecting and arranging engraving of the illustrations in this official record.