William Owen (Q70769)

William Owen, who was baptised at Llangurig, Montgomeryshire, on 10 April 1732, was the fourth son of David Owen and Frances Owen (née Rogers) of Glangynwydd, Llangurig, and Cefn yr Hafodau, Llanidloes. He joined the Royal Navy in April 1750 as a midshipman on HMS Sphinx. He joined HMS Tyger in 1754, becoming her 2nd Lieutenant in October 1758, then transferred to HMS Sunderland in 1759 as 3rd Lieutenant. He saw action on several occasions in India during the Seven Years' War, lost his right arm at Pondicherry in 1760, and returned to Britain in 1761 following the sinking of the Sunderland. In 1766 he accompanied Lord William Campbell, governor of Nova Scotia, to Halifax, and the following year he was granted the island of Campobello, N.B., by Campbell. Owen established a settlement there in 1770-1771. Whilst living in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in 1768, Owen lost an eye in an election fight; he was later the town's mayor, 1775-1776. He returned to active service in 1776, was made Captain of HMS Cormorant in November 1777, but died in Madras in October 1778. His two sons were Admiral Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen and Vice-Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen. His nephew Arthur Davies Owen erected the mansion of Glansevern in Garthmyl, Montgomeryshire.