Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell GCB (2 August 1825 – 27 December 1912) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Devonport.
Dowell joined the Royal Navy in 1839.[1] He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War.[1] He was given command of HMS Hornet and HMS Barrosa and, in the latter ship, took part in the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1863.[1] Later he commanded HMS Euryalus, HMS Topaze and then HMS Leander.[1] He was made Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in 1867 before taking command of HMS Hercules in 1871.[1]
He became Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron in 1877, Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station in 1878, Senior Officer in Command of the Channel Squadron in 1882, Commander-in-Chief, China Station in 1884 and Commander-in-Chief, Devonport in 1888.[1] He retired in 1890.[1]
In retirement he became President of the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum in Plymouth.[2]
In 1855 he married Caroline Johnna Pike.[1]