the French to cross the T in front of the British. Albion and Bowyer were sailing at the front of the British column and received the concentrated fire of fifteen French ships as they sailed towards them, eventually turning to run parallel along the French line with the rest of the fleet's vanguard. Bowyer took part in a similar action again on 19 May where the two fleets played a game of cat and mouse in an attempt to gain a strong tactical advantage. Bowyer left the West Indies and returned to England on 24 December 1781, staying unemployed until 20 March 1783 when he was given command of the ship of the line in the Medway. Here the vessel served as a guardship, with Bowyer being made a commodore for the purpose. Bowyer left Irresistible and reverted to his rank as a post-captain on 22 June 1785, going on half pay. His next command came on 3 October 1787 when he recommissioned the ship of the line but this commission was cut short and he paid her off on 7 December. Bowyer was appointed a Colonel of Marines, an honorary position for post-captains, on 24 September 1787 and received his next command, the brand new ship of the line , at the beginning of the Spanish Armament on 18 August 1790. The crisis having abated, Bowyer left Boyne on 10 January 1791; she was his last command as a post-captain. Flag rank Bowyer was promoted to rear-admiral on 1 February 1793. He was sent to join the Channel Fleet under the now Admiral Howe, raising his flag in the ship of the line with Captain Cuthbert Collingwood as his flag captain, on 10 March. He transferred with Collingwood to the ship of the line when Prince was paid off in December 1793, staying in the Channel. On 1 June 1794 the fleet fought the battle of the Glorious First of June, with Bowyer being heavily engaged with the enemy from 29 May. Bowyer commanded the first division of the centre of the fleet during the battle, having under his command Barfleur and the ships of the line , , , , and HMS Gibraltar. At around 10 a.m. on 1 June itself Bowyer had his leg shot off by enemy fire, being caught by his flag captain as he fell. He was carried down to the ship's surgeon where