Robert Otway

Sir Robert Waller Otway, Bt
Admiral Robert Waller Otway (1770–1846)
Born	(1770-04-26)26 April 1770 Castle Otway, Tipperary
Died	12 May 1846(1846-05-12) (aged 76)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1784 to 1846
Rank	Royal Navy Admiral
Commands held	South America Station Nore Command
Battles/wars	French Revolutionary Wars • Glorious First of June • Cruising operations in the West Indies • Capture of Grenada • Battle of Copenhagen Napoleonic Wars • Blockade of Brest • Blockade of Toulon • Siege of San Sebastian
Awards	Baronetcy of Brighton Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Order of the Southern Cross

Admiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st Baronet, GCB (26 April 1770 – 12 May 1846) was a senior Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who served extensively as a sea captain during the 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.

Otway was born in the family home of Castle Otway (now ruined) in Tipperary, Ireland, one of the very large family of Cooke and Elizabeth Otway. One of his younger brothers was Loftus Otway, later a significant army officer of the Peninsular War. Otway however, chose a navy career over his father's objections and became a midshipman in 1784 on the guardship HMS Elizabeth. Between 1785 and 1793, Otway experienced many transfers between ships, mainly operating on frigates in the 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.

The eruption of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 brought Otway back to Europe as 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. 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.