Sir Joshua Rowley, 1st Baronet
| Sir Joshua Rowley | |
|---|---|
Sir Joshua Rowley, Vice-Admiral of the White
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| Born | 1 May 1734 Tendring Hall in Suffolk |
| Died | 26 February 1790 Tendring Hall in Suffolk |
| Allegiance |
 Great Britain
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| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
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| Years of service | 1744–1783 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Rye (24) HMS Ambuscade (40) HMS Hampshire (50) HMS Montagu (60) HMS Superb (74) HMS Monarch (74) HMS Suffolk (74) HMS Conqueror (74) Jamaica Station |
| Battles/wars | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Joshua Rowley, 1st Baronet (1734–1790) was the fourth son of Admiral Sir William Rowley. Sir Joshua was from an ancient English family, originating in Staffordshire (England) and was born on 1 May 1734 in Dublin Rowley served with distinction in a number of battles throughout his career and was highly praised by his contemporaries. Unfortunately whilst his career was often active he did not have the opportunity to command any significant engagements and always followed rather than led. His achievements have therefore been eclipsed by his contemporaries such as Keppel, Hawke, Howe and Rodney. Rowley however remains one of the stalwart commanders of the wooden walls that kept Britain safe for so long.
He entered the navy and served on his father’s flagship HMS Stirling Castle and served at the battle of Toulon, a battle that was exceptionally controversial despite its inconclusive outcome and led Admiral Thomas Mathews and several of his Captains to be dismissed from the Royal Navy. Admiral William Rowley then became Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean until 1748. Joshua Rowley remained with his father and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 2 July 1747. In 1752 Rowley’s name appears once more serving as lieutenant aboard the 44-gun fifth-rate frigate HMS Penzance. On 4 December 1753 he was promoted to post-captain and given command of the sixth-rate HMS Rye of 24-guns. By March 1755 he had been appointed to HMS Ambuscade, a fifth Rate 40-gun frigate that had been captured from the French during the War of the Austrian Succession in 1746. In Ambuscade he was attached to a squadron under Admiral Edward Hawke in the Bay of Biscay. During that short period Hawke’s squadron captured over 300 enemy merchantmen. By the time Hawke had replaced the unfortunate Admiral John Byng at Minorca in 1756 Rowley had been moved to the 50-gun HMS Hampshire.
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