Charles Bowen (New Zealand politician)
Speaker of the Legislative Council | |
|---|---|
| In office 30 June 1905 – 4 July 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Reeves |
| Succeeded by | Charles Johnston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 August 1830 County Mayo, Ireland |
| Died | 12 December 1917 (aged 87) Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Political party | Independent |
Sir Charles Christopher Bowen
Life
Bowen was born in
His law training led to a position as private secretary to John Robert Godley, founder of the Canterbury colony. He was in charge of the police force, and, together with Crosbie Ward, became a part-owner of the Lyttelton Times newspaper.[2]
In 1859, Bowen traversed the Andes on with Clements Markham, and 16 July 1861, he married his sister Georgina Elizabeth Markham.[1]
The same year he dedicated a volume of poetry, Poems, to "my fellow colonists, the first settlers of Canterbury, New Zealand.".[3] The high quality of the edition is proof that "good craftsmen migrated along with the gentlemen-colonists".[4]
Following their return to Christchurch, Bowen was appointed resident magistrate in 1864, succeeding Joseph Brittan, who had resigned on health grounds.[5] Bowen held the position until 1874.
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | 5th | Kaiapoi | Independent | ||
| 1875–1879 | 6th | Kaiapoi | Independent | ||
| 1879–1881 | 7th | Kaiapoi | Independent | ||
Bowen was directly appointed to cabinet (by way of the
He was again appointed to the Legislative Council on 20 January 1891 and served until his death on 12 December 1917.
He was appointed
Bowen was made a Knight Bachelor in 1910 and a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1914. He had seven children.[1] He died on 12 December 1917 at his homestead[10] and is buried at the cemetery of St Peter's Church in Upper Riccarton.[11]
Notes
- ^ a b c d Lineham, Peter J. "Bowen, Charles Christopher – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ "Charles Christopher Bowen". The First Four Ships. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ Penguin Book of New Zealand Verse, ed. Allen Curnow, 1960, p. 314
- ^ Curnow, ibid p. 314-315
- ^ "The Press". Vol. IV, no. 488. 23 May 1864. p. 2. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 74.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 96.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, pp. 35–36.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 88.
- ^ "Death of Sir Charles Bowen". The Press. Vol. LIII, no. 16083. 13 December 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ "The Late Sir Charles Bowen". The Press. Vol. LIII, no. 16085. 15 December 1917. p. 9. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
References
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Further reading
- Mennell, Philip (1892). . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
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