Sir Charles Bowen | |
|---|---|
 Charles Christopher Bowen | |
| 13thSpeaker of the Legislative Council | |
| In office 30 June 1905 – 4 July 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Reeves |
| Succeeded by | Charles Johnston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1830-08-29)29 August 1830 County Mayo, Ireland |
| Died | 12 December 1917(1917-12-12) (aged 87) Riccarton,Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Party | Independent |
Sir Charles Christopher BowenKCMG (29 August 1830 – 12 December 1917) was a New Zealand politician.
Bowen was born inCounty Mayo, Ireland and studied law for two years atCambridge University. At the age of 20 he emigrated with his parents on one of theFirst Four Ships, theCharlotte Jane, to theCanterbury settlement.[1]
His law training led to a position as private secretary toJohn Robert Godley, founder of the Canterbury colony. He was in charge of the police force, and, together withCrosbie Ward, became a part-owner of theLyttelton Times newspaper.[2]
In 1859, Bowen traversed theAndes on withClements 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 toChristchurch, Bowen was appointedresident magistrate in 1864, succeedingJoseph Brittan, who had resigned on health grounds.[5] Bowen held the position until 1874.
| 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 theLegislative Council) on 16 December 1874, but wary of criticism that a public servant had been awarded political office, he resigned from the Legislative Council[6] and stood for election to the House of Representatives in the 22 January1875 Kaiapoi by-election, following the resignation ofJohn Studholme on 8 December 1874.[1][7] He was confirmed by theKaiapoi electorate at general elections in1875 and1879 and served until the end of the7th Parliament in 1881, when he retired.[7] From 1874 to 1877, he wasMinister of Justice in five successive ministries (first Vogel Ministry,Pollen Ministry,second Vogel Ministry,first andsecond Atkinson Ministry).[8] 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.[6] He was appointed as one of seven new members (includingHarry Atkinson himself) appointed to the council by the outgoingfourth Atkinson Ministry; a move regarded byLiberals as a stacking of the upper house against the new government.
He was appointedSpeaker of the Legislative Council from 1905 to 1915.[9]
Bowen was made aKnight Bachelor in 1910 and aKnight 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 ofSt Peter's Church in Upper Riccarton.[11]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Justice 1874–1877 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Council 1905–1915 | Succeeded by |
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Kaiapoi 1875–1881 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
