Charles R. Bowring
Encyclopedia
Charles Rennie Bowring was a merchant and politician born in St. John's
, Newfoundland
, Canada
.
to Charles Tricks Bowring and Harriet Harvey and was the grandson of Benjamin Bowring
who had established Bowring Brothers
, to be one the largest steamship companies in Newfoundland. Charles' father was also a prominent businessman in Newfoundland.
Whilst an infant, his family moved to Liverpool
, England
, where he was educated and raised as a Unitarian
. He was a junior partner
of Bowring Brothers in Liverpool until he moved back to Newfoundland to become manager of the operation there.
Bowring Brothers, under Bowring's direction, became one of the leading firms in the seal and cod fisheries and in the transportation of foodstuff to the coastal communities. In 1876 the company was awarded the Newfoundland government’s mail contract. These operations had taken them to a fleet of vessels numbering 57 sailing and steam vessels. Among all of its other ventures they also acted as the Newfoundland agent for several shipping and insurance companies, including Lloyd's of London
from 1866. In 1884 the firm established the Red Cross Line, a passenger and freight service.
Around 1869, he married Laura, the daughter of John Henry Warren
.
In 1873, Bowring had been elected as a Conservative to the House of Assembly
for the district of Bonavista Bay
, and was re-elected the next year following the defeat of the anti-confederate government led by Charles Fox Bennett
. In 1886, Bowring was appointed to the Legislative Council
by Prime Minister Robert Thorburn
. He consistently opposed the incorporation of the city of St. John’s when it came before the council and in 1886 he refused to support a bill to provide a sewage system for the city proposed by the government.
Bowring was a director of the Commercial Bank
in St. John’s, a member of the St. John’s Chamber of Commerce
, chairman of the St. John’s Gas Light Company, and one of the largest shareholders in the Atlantic Hotel and a prominent member and president of the Athenaeum Society. He was also actively involved in the completion of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
, a project undertaken in 1880.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Biography
Charles Bowring was born in 1840 at St. John'sSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
to Charles Tricks Bowring and Harriet Harvey and was the grandson of Benjamin Bowring
Benjamin Bowring
Benjamin Bowring was an English-Canadian watchmaker, jeweller, and businessman. He was the founder, in 1811, of the Bowring trading, shipping and insurance businesses, later known as Bowring Brothers in Canada and the United States, and C.T...
who had established Bowring Brothers
Bowring Brothers
Bowring Brothers Limited is currently an operator of retail stores, mostly focused on gifts and home decor, throughout Canada....
, to be one the largest steamship companies in Newfoundland. Charles' father was also a prominent businessman in Newfoundland.
Whilst an infant, his family moved to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he was educated and raised as a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
. He was a junior partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
of Bowring Brothers in Liverpool until he moved back to Newfoundland to become manager of the operation there.
Bowring Brothers, under Bowring's direction, became one of the leading firms in the seal and cod fisheries and in the transportation of foodstuff to the coastal communities. In 1876 the company was awarded the Newfoundland government’s mail contract. These operations had taken them to a fleet of vessels numbering 57 sailing and steam vessels. Among all of its other ventures they also acted as the Newfoundland agent for several shipping and insurance companies, including Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
from 1866. In 1884 the firm established the Red Cross Line, a passenger and freight service.
Around 1869, he married Laura, the daughter of John Henry Warren
John Henry Warren
John Henry Warren was an English-born merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented Bonavista Bay from 1852 to 1869 and from 1874 to 1878 and Trinity Bay from 1871 to 1874 in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.He was born in Devon, the son of William Warren, and is known to...
.
In 1873, Bowring had been elected as a Conservative to the House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
for the district of Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean....
, and was re-elected the next year following the defeat of the anti-confederate government led by Charles Fox Bennett
Charles Fox Bennett
Charles James Fox Bennett was a merchant and politician who successfully fought attempts to take Newfoundland into Canadian confederation. Bennett was a successful businessman and one of the island's richest residents with interests in the fisheries, distillery and brewery industry and shipbuilding...
. In 1886, Bowring was appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Newfoundland
The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was established in 1854 when the British Government granted a new constitution to Newfoundland establishing an Executive Council of not more than seven members of the majority party and a Legislative Council of not more than 15 members upon nomination of the...
by Prime Minister Robert Thorburn
Robert Thorburn
Sir Robert Thorburn was a Newfoundland merchant and politician who served as the colony's Premier from 1885 to 1889.Born in Scotland, Thorburn emigrated to Newfoundland in 1852 when he was sixteen...
. He consistently opposed the incorporation of the city of St. John’s when it came before the council and in 1886 he refused to support a bill to provide a sewage system for the city proposed by the government.
Bowring was a director of the Commercial Bank
Commercial bank
After the implementation of the Glass–Steagall Act, the U.S. Congress required that banks engage only in banking activities, whereas investment banks were limited to capital market activities. As the two no longer have to be under separate ownership under U.S...
in St. John’s, a member of the St. John’s Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, chairman of the St. John’s Gas Light Company, and one of the largest shareholders in the Atlantic Hotel and a prominent member and president of the Athenaeum Society. He was also actively involved in the completion of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (St. John's)
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is located in the city of St. John's, Newfoundland. This parish in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador was founded in 1699 in response to a petition drafted by the Anglican townsfolk of St. John's and sent to the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev....
, a project undertaken in 1880.