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 officer, the second son of the late Cradock Nowell, of Tee-Maur, Nottage, Glamorganshire, Esq., and nephew of the late Rev. Dr. Nowell, thirty-seven years Principal of St. Mary’s Hall, Oxford, entered the naval service in 1769, on board the St. Antonio, of 60 guns, commanded by Captain Clark Gayton; and continued to serve in different ships until 1776, when he was promoted by his patron, (at that time Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica ,) to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the Badger sloop, the boats of which vessel he commanded at the capture of fifteen sail of French merchantmen, laden with warlike stores, near Hispaniola, and two American brigs from under the guns of the fort at the entrance of Cape François.

The Badger returned to England in April, 1777, and Lieutenant Nowell soon after exchanged into the Resolution, of 74 guns, commanded by Sir Chaloner Ogle, and at that time stationed on the coasts of Spain and Portugal for the purpose of intercepting vessels belonging to the revolted colonies. She was subsequently attached to the Channel fleet, under-the Admirals Keppel, Hardy, Darby, Digby, and Kempenfelt, until the latter end of 1779, when she accompanied Sir George B. Rodney to the relief of Gibraltar; and was consequently present at the capture of the Caracca convoy, and the discomfiture of Don Juan de Langara, Jan. 8 and 16, 1780 .