Richard William Dowling (1838-1867) was born in Galway Co., Ireland.
He was successful in business in Houston, opening "The Shades," the first of a series of saloons, in 1857. He then purchased a bank, the bank of Bacchus.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the Jefferson Davis Guards as 1st. Lt. In 1861, the Guards became Company F of the Third Texas Artillery.
At Sabine Pass, Dowling had 47 men and six cannon. His group disabled two gunboats, and captured two ships and 350 men, without sustaining any injuries.
After the War, be mamaged several businesses, including oil and gas. He died of yellow fever in 1867.
Handbook of Texas