# Robert Otway

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Royal Navy Admiral (1770–1846)

Admiral Sir Robert Otway GCB Bt Admiral Robert Waller Otway (1770–1846), from a painting attributed to John Lucas (1807–1874) Born (1770-04-26)26 April 1770 Castle Otway, County Tipperary Died 12 May 1846(1846-05-12) (aged 76) Allegiance United Kingdom Branch Royal Navy Service years 1784 to 1846 Rank Admiral Commands Leith Station South America Station Commander-in-Chief, The Nore Conflicts French Revolutionary Wars Glorious First of June Operations in the West Indies Capture of Grenada Battle of Copenhagen Napoleonic Wars Blockade of Brest Blockade of Toulon Siege of San Sebastian Awards Baronetcy of Brighton Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Order of the Southern Cross

[Admiral](/source/Admiral_(Royal_Navy)) **Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st Baronet**, [GCB](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) (26 April 1770 – 12 May 1846) was a senior [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) officer of the early nineteenth century who served extensively as a sea captain during the [Napoleonic War](/source/Napoleonic_War) and later supported the Brazilian cause during the [Brazilian War of Independence](/source/Brazilian_War_of_Independence). During his long service, Otway saw action across Europe and in North America and was rewarded in his retirement with a knighthood, baronetcy, and position as a courtier within the Royal Household.

## Early career

Otway was born in the family home of [Castle Otway](/source/Castle_Otway) (now ruined) in [County Tipperary](/source/County_Tipperary), [Ireland](/source/Ireland), one of the very large families of Cooke and Elizabeth Otway. One of his younger brothers was [Loftus Otway](/source/Loftus_Otway), later a significant army officer of the [Peninsular War](/source/Peninsular_War). Otway however, chose a navy career over his father's objections and became a [midshipman](/source/Midshipman) in 1784 on the [guardship](/source/Guardship) [HMS *Elizabeth*](/source/HMS_Elizabeth_(1769)).[1] Between 1785 and 1793, Otway experienced many transfers between ships, mainly operating on [frigates](/source/Frigate) in the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean), [West Indies](/source/West_Indies), and along the [West African](/source/West_Africa) Coast. During this time he served on board [HMS *Phaeton*](/source/HMS_Phaeton_(1782)), [HMS *Trusty*](/source/HMS_Trusty_(1782)) and [HMS *Blonde*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Blonde_(1787)&action=edit&redlink=1), making [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant_(navy)) in the [sloop](/source/Sloop-of-war) [HMS *Falcon*](/source/HMS_Falcon_(1782)).

## French Revolutionary Wars

The eruption of the [French Revolutionary Wars](/source/French_Revolutionary_Wars) in 1793 brought Otway back to Europe as a lieutenant on the [second-rate](/source/Second-rate) [ship of the line](/source/Ship_of_the_line) [HMS *Impregnable*](/source/HMS_Impregnable_(1786)) with the [Channel Fleet](/source/Channel_Fleet). *Impregnable* was [flagship](/source/Flagship) of [Rear-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell](/source/Benjamin_Caldwell), who was later to prove an important influence on Otway's career. Within a year of joining the large ship, Otway saw his first action in the massive fleet engagement of the [Glorious First of June](/source/Glorious_First_of_June). Otway distinguished himself in the action by going aloft despite the heavy fire of the French fleet to repair the damaged fore [topsail](/source/Topsail) [yard](/source/Yard_(sailing)) and thus allow *Impregnable* to engage the enemy closer.[1] In the aftermath of the action, Caldwell publicly thanked Otway for his services and appointed him first lieutenant on Caldwell's new flagship, [HMS *Majestic*](/source/HMS_Majestic_(1785)).

With *Majestic* in the West Indies as personal favourite of the commander-in-chief, Otway was soon promoted again, becoming [commander](/source/Commander_(Royal_Navy)) in early 1795 in command of the [brig](/source/Brig) [HMS *Thorn*](/source/HMS_Thorn). Between 1795 and 1800 as commander of *Thorn* and subsequently the frigates [HMS *Mermaid*](/source/HMS_Mermaid_(1784)), [HMS *Ceres*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Ceres_(1781)&action=edit&redlink=1) and [HMS *Trent*](/source/HMS_Trent_(1796)), Otway became one of the most proficient and prolific commerce raiders in the Royal Navy, reputedly capturing or destroying over 200 French and Spanish vessels, making a fortune in [prize money](/source/Prize_money) in the process.[1] His exploits during this period included destroying, on two separate occasions, the sloops *La Belle Créole* and *Courier National* which were on passage to [Guadeloupe](/source/Guadeloupe) with orders to massacre the French Royalist population there. He later supported insurgencies in French held [Grenada](/source/Grenada) and [St. Vincent](/source/Saint_Vincent_(Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines)) and also raided [La Guayra](/source/La_Guayra) in [Venezuela](/source/Venezuela) in an unsuccessful effort to capture [HMS *Hermione*](/source/HMS_Hermione_(1782)), whose crew had [mutinied](/source/Mutiny), murdered their captain, [Hugh Pigot](/source/Hugh_Pigot_(Royal_Navy_captain)), and turned her over to the Spanish.[1]

Admiral [Thomas Ussher](/source/Thomas_Ussher), who served under Otway during this period, later reported "that no captain was more attentive to the comfort of his officers and men and that there was so much method in his manner of carrying on the service that, though in a constant state of activity, they had as much leisure as any other ship's company." He also commented that Otway insisted on inspecting every gun aboard after every action and led every coastal raid despite never mentioning this in his dispatches. In 1800, Otway returned to Europe and was made [flag captain](/source/Flag_captain) to [Sir Hyde Parker](/source/Hyde_Parker_(admiral)) in [HMS *Royal George*](/source/HMS_Royal_George_(1788)) and then [HMS *London*](/source/HMS_London_(1766)). Otway was still at this post when Parker lead a fleet to the [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea) to engage the [League of Armed Neutrality](/source/Second_League_of_Armed_Neutrality) which threatened Britain's trade routes in the region and he was an important contributor to the tactical planning of the [Battle of Copenhagen](/source/Battle_of_Copenhagen_(1801)).[1] At Copenhagen, Otway's suggestion that [Nelson](/source/Horatio_Nelson) lead the inshore [squadron](/source/Squadron_(naval)) through the Sound yielded immediate results but when Admiral Parker lost his nerve and ordered Nelson to withdraw, the battle seemed in vain. Otway successfully mediated, mitigating the terms of Parker's signal and then taking a boat to Nelson on [HMS *Elephant*](/source/HMS_Elephant_(1786)) and supporting Nelson's famous "failure" to see the signal.[1]

## Napoleonic Wars

In the aftermath of the victory and the ensuing [Peace of Amiens](/source/Peace_of_Amiens), Otway spent a period ashore in ill-health. During this time he married Clementina Holloway, daughter of Admiral [John Holloway](/source/John_Holloway_(Royal_Navy_officer)), with whom he would have twelve children.[1] By 1804 he was sufficiently recovered to take command of [HMS *Montagu*](/source/HMS_Montagu_(1779)) off [Brest](/source/Brest%2C_France) under Admiral [William Cornwallis](/source/William_Cornwallis) and whilst on this duty he participated in a brief artillery duel with the [*Alexandre*](/source/French_ship_Indivisible) during the French attempt to break the [blockade](/source/Blockade) in August 1805. The following year he participated in [Sir Richard Strachan's](/source/Sir_Richard_Strachan%2C_6th_Baronet) operations in the Atlantic to intercept a French squadron eventually apprehended by another British squadron in the West Indies. In 1807, Otway sailed to [Calabria](/source/Calabria) to provide material and military aid to partisans and did the same in 1808 in [Catalonia](/source/Catalonia) at the outbreak of the [Peninsular War](/source/Peninsular_War).[1]

Taking over [HMS *Malta*](/source/HMS_Malta_(1800)) in 1809, Otway sailed for England before returning to the Mediterranean in the new [HMS *Ajax*](/source/HMS_Ajax_(1809)). He later commanded [HMS *Cumberland*](/source/HMS_Cumberland_(1807)) in the blockade off [Toulon](/source/Toulon) but suffered a recurring bout of ill-health in 1811 which necessitated a period in England recovering. He returned to service in 1813 and commanded [*Adamant*](/source/HMS_Adamant_(1780)) at Leith, before returning to *Ajax*, which he sailed to the [Bay of Biscay](/source/Bay_of_Biscay). The same year he used *Ajax*'s guns to bombard the breaches of the Spanish fortress town of [San Sebastian](/source/San_Sebasti%C3%A1n) during the British [siege](/source/Siege_of_San_Sebastian).[1]

In 1814, Otway convoyed merchant ships to [Quebec](/source/Quebec) and whilst in [Canada](/source/Canada) was dispatched as a [rear-admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(Royal_Navy)) on a special commission to prepare the small ships squadron on [Lake Champlain](/source/Lake_Champlain). The commission failed and the squadron was totally defeated at the [Battle of Lake Champlain](/source/Battle_of_Plattsburgh) in September although Otway was not present.[1]

## Brazil and retirement

The grave of Admiral Robert Otway, Kensal Green Cemetery

In 1818, three years after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, Otway was made [Commander-in-Chief, Leith](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_Leith), a commission he performed so well in that in 1826 he was knighted into the [Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) and sent as commander-in-chief to the [South America Station](/source/South_America_Station). There Otway supported the Brazilian forces diplomatically, being presented with the [Order of the Southern Cross](/source/Order_of_the_Southern_Cross).[1] In 1829 he returned to Britain and enjoyed a quiet retirement as courtier, holding the office of [Groom of the Bedchamber](/source/Groom_of_the_Bedchamber) to [King William IV](/source/William_IV_of_the_United_Kingdom). He was also promoted to full [admiral](/source/Admiral_(Royal_Navy)) and in 1831 made [Baronet of Brighton](/source/Otway_Baronets) for his services. His last appointment was as [Commander-in-Chief, The Nore](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_The_Nore) in 1837.[2] He died suddenly in 1846, survived by his wife and eight of their twelve children. His two eldest sons had died in service with the Navy and so the baronetcy passed to his third son [George Otway](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Graham_Otway,_2nd_Baronet&action=edit&redlink=1) and then fourth son [Arthur Otway](/source/Arthur_Otway) in turn.[1]

## Death

He died on 12 May 1846. He is buried in the northwest quadrant in the centre of [Kensal Green Cemetery](/source/Kensal_Green_Cemetery) in [London](/source/London).

## See also

- O'Byrne, William Richard (1849). ["Otway, Robert Waller"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Naval_Biographical_Dictionary/Otway,_Robert_Waller). [*A Naval Biographical Dictionary*](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Naval_Biographical_Dictionary). [John Murray](/source/John_Murray_(publishing_house)) – via [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-11) Laughton, John Knox (1895). ["Otway, Robert Waller"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Otway,_Robert_Waller). In [Lee, Sidney](/source/Sidney_Lee) (ed.). *[Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography)*. Vol. 42. London: [Smith, Elder & Co](/source/Smith%2C_Elder_%26_Co).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [William Loney RN](http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowCommanders.php)

## External links

- ["Otway, Sir Robert"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/20943). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/20943](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F20943). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

Baronetage of the United Kingdom New creation Baronet (of Brighton) 1831–1846 Succeeded by George Graham Otway Military offices New command Commander-in-Chief, South America Station 1826–1829 Succeeded by Thomas Baker Preceded by Charles Elphinstone Fleeming Commander-in-Chief, The Nore 1837–1840 Succeeded by Sir Henry Digby

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States Other SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Otway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Otway) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Otway?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.