Charles Christopher Bowen

Charles Christopher Bowen

Sir Charles Christopher Bowen KB. KCMG. (29 August 1830 – 12 December 1917) was a 19th century New Zealand politician.

Life

Satirical political poster printed for the Kaiapoi 1875 general election

Bowen was born in County Mayo, Ireland and studied law for two years at Cambridge University. At the age of 20 he emigrated with his parents on one of the First Four Ships, the Charlotte-Jane, to the Canterbury settlement.^[1]

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 foot on his return to England, where he married Georgina Elizabeth Markham, a sister of Clements Markham.

Following their return to Christchurch, Bowen was appointed Resident Magistrate, a position he held from 1864–1874.

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
Independent
1875–1879	6th	Kaiapoi		Independent
1879–1881	7th	Kaiapoi		Independent

Bowen was directly appointed to cabinet (by way of the Legislative Council) on 16 December 1874, but wary of criticism that a public servant had been awarded political office, he resigned from the Legislative Council^[3] and stood for election to the House of Representatives in the 22 January 1875 Kaiapoi by-election, following the resignation of John Studholme on 8 December 1874.^[1][4] He was confirmed by the Kaiapoi electorate at general elections in 1875 and 1879 and served until the end of the 7th Parliament in 1881, when he retired.^[4] From 1874 to 1877, he was Minister of Justice in five successive ministries (first Vogel Ministry, Pollen Ministry, second Vogel Ministry, first and second Atkinson Ministry).^[5] Bowen was responsible for the Education Act 1877, which provided for compulsory free, secular primary education.

He was again appointed to the Legislative Council on 20 January 1891 and served until his death on 12 December 1917.^[3] He was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council from 1905 to 1915.^[6]

Bowen was knighted in 1910. He had seven children.^[1]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Lineham, Peter J.. "Bowen, Charles Christopher - Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1b26. Retrieved 31 October 2011. 
2. ^ "Charles Christopher Bowen". The First Four Ships. http://www.firstfourships.co.nz/pics/person.php?pos=cj5. Retrieved 31 October 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Scholefield 1950, p. 74.
4. ^ ^{a b} Scholefield 1950, p. 96.
5. ^ Scholefield 1950, pp. 35–36.
6. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 88.

References

• Scholefield, Guy Hardy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1949. Wellington: Govt. Printer. 

Parliament of New Zealand
Preceded by John Studholme	Member of Parliament for Kaiapoi 1875–1881	Succeeded by Isaac Wilson

Persondata
Name	Bowen, Charles Christopher
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	29 August 1830
Place of birth
Date of death	12 December 1917
Place of death