Sir James Bowman, 1st Baronet,KBE (8 March 1898 – 25 September 1978) was aBritishtrade unionist.
Born inGreat Corby, nearCarlisle, Bowman worked atAshington colliery from the age of fifteen. He served in theRoyal Marines duringWorld War I, then returned to coal mining, where he became active in theNorthumberland Miners' Association. He became General Secretary of the union in 1935, and Vice President of theMiners' Federation of Great Britain in 1939, holding the post unopposed until 1949, during which period he took a leading role in reorganising the union into theNational Union of Mineworkers.[1]
Bowman advised in reforming the German trade unions afterWorld War II. He also served on the 1947 Royal Commission on the Press, and Beveridge's committee on broadcasting. He withdrew from trade unionism at the end of 1949, instead taking aNational Coal Board post; in 1956, he was appointed its chairman. Bowman was appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the1952 Birthday Honours,[2] and was promoted toKnight Commander (KBE) in the1957 Birthday Honours.[3] He stood down in 1961, due to ill health. In the1961 New Year Honours Bowman was created as abaronet.[4][5]
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | General Secretary of theNorthumberland Miners' Association 1935–1950 | Succeeded by Robert Main |
| Preceded by | Vice President of theMiners' Federation of Great Britain 1939–1945 | Position abolished |
| New post | Vice President of theNational Union of Mineworkers 1945–1949 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of theNational Coal Board 1956–1961 | Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of Killingworth) 1961–1978 | Succeeded by George Bowman |
