Sir George Bowyer, 5th Baronet


Sir George Bowyer

Portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, c. 1768
Born3 May 1740
Died6 December 1800(1800-12-06) (aged 60)
AllegianceGreat Britain
BranchRoyal Navy
Service years1751–1800
RankAdmiral
CommandsHMS Swift
HMS Sheerness
HMS Burford
HMS Albion
HMS Irresistible
HMS Bellona
HMS Boyne
Conflicts
AwardsNaval Gold Medal

Admiral Sir George Bowyer, 5th and 1st Baronet (3 May 1740 – 6 December 1800) was a Royal Navy officer and politician of the eighteenth century. He participated in the Seven Years' War, fighting at the Battle of Minorca, raid on Rochefort, and siege of Louisbourg as a junior officer. Promoted to master and commander in 1761, his first command, the cutter HMS Swift, was captured by the French in June of the following year. Acquitted by his subsequent court-martial, Bowyer was promoted to post-captain in October 1762.

During the American War of Independence he commanded the ship of the line HMS Albion and fought in the Battle of Grenada and Battle of Martinique, and also played a key role in a skirmish with Admiral de Guichen's fleet on 15 May 1780 where he drew the fire of fifteen French ships at once. Promoted to rear admiral in 1793, Bowyer fought at the battle of the Glorious First of June on 1 June 1794 where he lost a leg. Unable to continue serving actively, he was rewarded for his service with a baronetcy and became an admiral in 1799. In the same year he also inherited his brother's baronetcy. Bowyer died in December 1800.