Rowley's advance from midshipman in 1744 to post captain in 1753 was unusually fast. By 1755 he commanded the former French fifth-rate Ambuscade and served with Edward Hawke while Hawke's squadron captured roughly 300 enemy merchant vessels, bringing substantial prize money. Hampshire followed in 1756 and Montagu in 1757, after the earlier Rye. By Cartagena in 1758 he had served fourteen years and already commanded four ships, giving him the experience to act as the informal second-in-command in Arthur Gardiner's detached force.
Notable Point · 11:57-14:21
Four commands in fourteen years: Rowley's accelerated experience
Rye, Ambuscade, Hampshire, and Montagu gave Rowley practical command experience and prize income before Cartagena.