He was at Vera Cruz nearly all the summer of 1867, which witnessed the fall of Maximilian’s empire. After the death of Maximilian, and the surrender of Vera Cruz to the Liberals, the _Tacony_ returned to Pensacola, Fla., but, yellow fever breaking out aboard, the ship went to Portsmouth, N. H., where, after undergoing quarantine, the officers were detached and ordered to their homes the latter part of September, 1867. In October of the same year, McGowan was ordered to duty on board the receiving-ship at the Philadelphia navy yard. He commanded the U. S. S. _Constellation_ there, and was afterward executive officer of the frigate _Potomac_, also a receiving ship, at Philadelphia. In March, 1868, while on the _Potomac_, he received a commission as master in the regular navy, and in October, 1868, was ordered to duty with the Asiatic fleet. On reporting to the admiral, he was ordered to duty as executive officer of the U. S. S. _Unadilla_; succeeded to the command of the _Unadilla_ in June, 1869, and in November of that year was detached from the _Unadilla_ and ordered to the U. S. S. _Iroquois_; returned in her to the United States, the ship going out of commission in April, 1870. In April, 1870, he was promoted to be lieutenant-commander and while in that grade served on the double-turreted monitor _Terror_, the _Wachusetts_, _Juniata_ and _Marion_ as executive officer, and at the League Island, Philadelphia and Brooklyn navy yards. In January, 1887, he was promoted to commander; commanded the _Swatara_, _St. Mary’s_, _Portsmouth_ and _Alliance_, and was also commandant of the naval training station at Newport, R. I., from December, 1896, to July, 1899. He was promoted captain, February, 1899, and in August took command of the U. S. S. _Monadnock_ at Manila. In November, 1900, he was ordered to duty as commandant of the naval station at Key West, Fla. In April, 1901, he was detached and ordered before the retiring-board. He was retired, with the rank of rear admiral, in April, 1901. In October, 1871, he wedded Evelyn Manderson of Philadelphia. Admiral McGowan is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, of the Order of Foreign Wars, the Sons of the Revolution, and of the Society of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects. He is also a member of the following clubs: Metropolitan and Chevy Chase of Washington, D. C.; Rittenhouse of Philadelphia, Union of New York, and New York Yacht Club. Admiral McGowan’s father, Capt. John McGowan, was appointed a lieutenant in the revenue cutter service by President Andrew Jackson. He was at Charleston, S. C., during the nullification period, served in the Seminole War, in the War with Mexico, and in the Civil War. He commanded the steamer _Star of the West_ in the attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter in 1861. He died January, 1891, aged 85 years. President-General of the Society for two terms.