CLOWES, SIR WILLIAM LAIRD author and journalist, was born at Hampstead, London, on Feb. I, 1856, the son of William Clowes, a former registrar in chancery, and died at St. Leonards-on-Sea on Aug. 14, 1905. He was entered at Lincoln's Inn in 1877, but was never called, and began journal ism in 1879, devoting himself especially to the study of naval matters. As special correspondent of the Daily News (1885), the Standard (1887-9o), and The Times (189o-95), he was present at naval manoeuvres and had opportunities of close and first-hand studies. His review and newspaper articles, written often under the pen-name "Nauticus," were regarded as authoritative both in England and on the Continent. He founded, and for a time edited, the Naval Pocket Book, and with Sir Clements Markham, Captain A. T. Mahan and others, wrote The Royal Navy; its History from the Earliest Times (7 vols., 1897-1903).
See a notice by S. E. Fryer in the Dict. Nat. Biog. (Supplement for 1901-II).