Sir Erasmus Gower is the eldest son of Abel Gower, Esq. of Glandoven, in the county of Pembroke, South Wales, and Lætitia Lewes Gower, only daughter to the Rev. Erasmus Gower, D. D. William Gower, the grandfather to Mr. Abel Gower, was representative in Parliament for the borough of Ludlow, in the county of Salop, during an uninterrupted period of twenty-six years. Sir Erasmus having been destined by his father for a naval life, was sent to sea at a very early age, under the protection of Captain John Donkley, his uncle; he served after the death of his relative, under a variety of other commanders, on the North America, the home or channel station, in the Irish, and the North Seas. And during the time he continued, according to the rules of the service, in the subordinate stations of midshipman and mate, acquired the universal love and esteem of all those under whose orders he chanced to be placed. In the month of August 1762, being then very young, he passed through the necessary examination to qualify him for the rank of Lieutenant, and was soon afterwards selected as one of the officers whom it was deemed expedient to send into the Portuguese service.