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Ainm Gaeilge:
Captaen Mícheál Seán Mac Gabhann

The son of Master Mariner John & Mary (née Morgan) Gowan of Skerries, Ireland, Michael began his sailing career as Ship's Boy at the age of 13 with his father. Through the years he advanced to Able Seaman, then Mate.

On September 27, 1878 he married Alice Britt at St. Mary's Haddington Road, the Catholic Church in Ringsend.

It was Michael & Alice's status as newlyweds that prevented him sailing with his father weeks later aboard the 'Reaper' when she foundered in a storm off the coast of Angelsey, North Wales. All hands were lost.
After Capt. Gowan's passing, Michael began using the McGowan form of his surname and became a Master Mariner himself.

Capt. McGowan owned a fishing trawler called 'Flower of Avondale', named in honor of Charles Stuart Parnell. He sailed out of the Dublin Bay port of Ringsend and the family lived on Pigeon House Road. Michael & Alice McGowan had 14 children.

He emigrated to America in 1911, three years after the sudden death of his wife Alice. He settled in Brooklyn where his brother John McGowan and sister Lizzie McCaffrey were already established. Michael was to marry two more times in the U.S.A. He outlived all three of his wives and six of his children.

Obituary: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sunday, October 31, 1943;
McGOWAN — MICHAEL, native of Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland, on October 29, 1943, beloved father of Mrs. Anna McLarney, John, Warrant Officer Michael Jr., United States Navy; Joseph; one daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Mansfield and three sons Morgan, Thomas and William in Dublin, Ireland; dear brother of Mrs. E. McCaffrey: also survived by forty grandchildren. Reposing at the M. J. Smith Memorial, 248 Prospect Park West, until Tuesday, 10 a.m.; solemn high requiem mass Holy Name Church. Interment Calvary Cemetery.

✞ Captain Michael John McGowan is buried at Third Cavalry with his 2nd wife Agnes, son Jack, daughter in-law Bessie and his grandson Tom Mansfield. Only Jack's name is on the tombstone.

✞ The Mansfield Family Memorial Stone
Holmpatrick Graveyard, Skerries, Ireland
In addition to his own grave site, Capt. McGowan, his 1st wife Alice and their ancestors are remembered and honored on the Mansfield Family Memorial Stone erected by his grandson Liam Mansfield over the grave of Capt. Michael & Alice's daughter & son in-law Elizabeth & John Joseph Mansfield, (Michael's 3rd wife Ellen is also remembered on it).
The Mansfield Family Memorial Stone is located at Holmpatrick Graveyard in Michael's home villiage of Skerries, Ireland.
(Nota Bene: the Mansfield Family Memorial Stone lists an incorrect death date for Capt. Michael).