A half-length portrait to the left showing Bowen in his captain’s full dress uniform (over three years) of the 1812–25 pattern, holding a telescope in his right hand.
James Bowen first went to sea in the merchant service and by 1776 commanded a ship in the African and West Indies trade. Shortly after he joined the Navy as a master, serving with Captain John Macbride in the ‘Artois’, 1781–82, seeing action at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 5 August 1781. He stayed with Macbride in several ships until 1789, when he was appointed agent for transports in the Thames. With the outbreak of the French Revolutionary War, Lord Howe requested that Bowen by master of his flagship, the ‘Queen Charlotte’, which piloted into action at the Glorious First of June. Howe gave the order ‘Starboard!’ to which Bowen responded: ‘My lord, you’ll be foul of the French ship if you don’t take care.’ Howe was determined and yelled back ‘What is it to you sir? Starboard!’ Bowen cried ‘Starboard!’ and then audibly muttered ‘Damned if I care, if you don’t. I’ll take you near enough to singe your black whiskers.’ This he essentially achieved, passing so close by the stern of the French flagship ‘Montagne’ that her ensign brushed the main and mizzen shrouds of the ‘Royal Charlotte’ as a broadside was fired into the enemy ship. This demonstration of excellent seamanship earned Bowen his promotion to lieutenant on 23 June 1794. Further service followed and he was promoted captain on 2 September 1795, commanding the ‘Thunderer’ in the West Indies. He then commanded the 44-gun ‘Argo’ in the Mediterranean before being employed on convoy duty, gaining the commendation of the East India Company.
At St Vincent’s suggestion he was nominated a commissioner of the transport board in 1803, where is practical skills and experience proved invaluable. He gained the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his part overseeing the re-embarkation of the army at Corunna in 1809. Bowen was appointed one of the commissioners of the Navy in February 1816 and continued in the role until August 1825, when he retired with the rank of rear-admiral.