The papers include a narrative of Owen's naval service, an account of the proceedings in the Cornelia and papers relating to the Africa survey and his work at Fernando Po. There are two items signed by Nelson, including an order for Owen to take the fire vessel HMS NANCY into Boulogne harbour in October 1801, with an endorsement to the effect that he was willing to testify to the efficiency of this lieutenant on this occasion. There are also papers concerning the settlement founded by Commander Owen, Admiral Owen's father, in Nova Scotia. See the item level records for further details.

Administrative / biographical background
Younger son of Commander William Owen (q.v.), W.F. Owen entered the Navy in 1788 and served on the Home and West Indies Stations. He was in the Culloden at the battle of the First of June 1794 and became a lieutenant in 1797. In 1803 he went to the East Indies where he surveyed the Maldive Islands and assisted at the capture of Batavia in 1806. He was a captive of the French in Mauritius from 1808 to 1810 during which time, in 1809, he was promoted to commander. In 1811 he commanded the Barracouta at the capture of Java. He became a captain and was posted to the Cornelia, East Indies Station, in 1812. From 1815 to 1816 Owen was engaged in a survey of the Great Lakes and from 1821 to 1826 in the Leven, with the Barracouta, conducted the first survey of the coasts of Africa. In the Eden he founded a colony on Fernando Po in 1827 and then served on the coast of South America until 1831. His only other command was the Columbia, North America, in 1847. He returned to England at the end of the year on his promotion to rear-admiral. Owen became a vice-admiral in 1854 and retired in 1855.