Nathaniel Bowden-Smith

Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith KCB (21 January 1838 28 April 1921) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.


Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith

Born21 January 1838
Died28 April 1921(1921-04-28) (aged 83)
London, England[1]
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch
Royal Navy
Service years
1852–1903
Rank
Admiral
CommandsHMS Narcissus
HMS Undaunted
HMS Hercules
HMS Amethyst
HMS Britannia
Australia Station
Nore Command
Conflicts
Second Anglo-Burmese War
Crimean War
Second Opium War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
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Bowden-Smith joined the Royal Navy in 1852.[2] He took part in the Second Anglo-Burmese War later that year and in the Crimean War in 1855.[3]

He was present at the Battle of Fatshan Creek in 1857. He participated in the first and second attacks on the Peiho Forts in 1858 and 1959 during the Second Opium War. He was badly injured in the arm during the failed assault on the forts in the latter one.[4][5][6]

Promoted to captain in 1872 he commanded the frigates HMS Narcissus and HMS Undaunted, the battleship HMS Hercules and the corvette HMS Amethyst.[2] He went on to command the training ship HMS Britannia in 1883 and to be Commander-in-chief, Australia Station in 1892 and Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1899,[2] with the full rank of admiral on 16 October 1899.[7] He retired from the Navy in January 1903.[8]

In 1905 commenting on the Battle of Port Arthur he said the "siege was distinguished by the most daring and persistent attacks [by the Japanese] and the most heroic defence [by the Russians] on record."[9]

Family

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In 1873 he married Emily Cecilia Sandeman.[2]

Honours and awards

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References

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  1. Marylebone Registration District
  2. 1 2 3 4 William Loney RN
  3. Dix Noonan Webb Medals
  4. Naval Commanders
  5. "Nathaniel Bowden-Smith obituary". www.pdavis.nl. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  6. Mackay, Ruddock (1973). Fisher of Kilverstone. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 19.
  7. "No. 27131". The London Gazette. 31 October 1899. p. 6532.
  8. "No. 27518". The London Gazette. 23 January 1903. p. 466.
  9. "The fall of Port Arthur (Part 1)". Archived from the original on 17 June 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) The Age, 4 January 1905
  10. "No. 26947". The London Gazette. 14 March 1898. p. 1682.