Owen joined the
Royal Navy in 1786 under the patronage of his godfather
Sir Thomas Rich. He served on several ships around the world. After being promoted to
lieutenant in November 1793, he joined
Hannibal and thereafter served with the blockading fleet off
Cádiz. His loyalty during the
Mutiny at the Nore in 1797 made him a
captain in 1798. He was given command, successively, of , the captured French
frigate (1802) and in March 1806. and, following promotion to
rear admiral in 1825, he was appointed
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance in 1827, made a member of the Lord High Admiral's Council in 1828 and was made
Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station in 1829. Promoted to
vice admiral in 1837, he was appointed
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet on in 1841. In 1846 he was promoted to
admiral. ==See also==