Who was Sir John Bowring? - Part 1

Sir John Bowring lived a life of multiple careers. He published translated works from different European cultures before dedicating his time to the advancement of radical ideas, in particular utilitarianism. Then he became an MP or member of parliament advocating free trade and reforms in military discipline and prison conditions. Due to financial struggles he took positions overseas becoming a player in the advancement of British interest in the Far East.

Early Life

John Bowring was born on October 17, 1792 in Exeter, Devonshire. His father Charles Bowring made a living as a wool trader, while his mother Sarah grew up a daughter of a Unitarian cleric. Her mother’s heritage and his father’s trade influenced John Bowring’s upbringing and career. He grew up being taught of Unitarian values and in his college, he attended a Unitarian boarding school in Moretonhampstead.

The Unitarian Christians believed in a single persona of God rather than a trinity of father, son, and Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church. Moreover, the movement proved itself to be more tolerant and liberal welcoming critical thinking and reason. The liberal ideas of the Church contributed to John Bowring’s belief in free trade as well as human rights and welfare.

While his mother influenced John Bowring with Unitarian ideals, his father on the other hand introduced him to commerce. At the age of 13, he worked as a clerk for his father before finding employment in Kennaway & Co. In 1811, he joined Milford & Co. allowing him to move to London where he stayed in Hackney, a famous Unitarian center in the capital.

His time in Milford & Co. gave him a chance to see the horrors of warfare. The Company provided the logistics necessary for future Duke of Wellington’s campaign in the Iberia during the height of the Peninsular Wars. He witnessed the Battle of San Sebastian and saw the allied forces of Wellington advance into Southern France. The experience taught Bowring not only the horrors of war, but also the necessary ruthlessness in conducting one.   

Storming of San Sebastian

In 1817, Bowring decided to establish his own trading company with Henry Murdoch called the Bowring & Co. From its headquarters in 23 Bucklersbury, Cheapside, the Company engaged in the export of fish to France and Spain, while they brought back French and Spanish wine. Bowring’s income grew that allowed to him to travel to Europe both for leisure and for business.

While engaging in his commercial pursuits, Bowring also established his household in order. In 1814, upon his return to England from the Iberian Peninsula, he met and befriended Samuel Lewin. The friendship further strengthened when on September 16, 1816, Bowring married Lewin’s daughter Maria. The marriage resulted to 5 boys and 4 daughters.

Utilitarianism and Radicalism

Bowring’s Unitarian upbringing brought him in the forefront of the rise of Utilitarianism – an idea which believed in the pursuit of happiness for self and greater of society. His relation with Jeremy Bentham introduced him into English politics. He remained in the political margins as an editor before finally becoming a Member of Parliament (MP).

Jeremy Bentham

In 1820, Bowring accepted the position of “foreign secretary” of the London Peace Society. After the horrors of the Napoleonic War, peace movements emerged with the aim of preventing conflict by settling issues through dialogue and arbitration. The London Peace Society founded to realize this aim.  Bowring who saw the horrors of war first hand and with his upbringing decided to join.

Besides the London Peace Society, he also met one of his biggest influence in his life – Jeremey Bentham. Through a mutual friend Edward Blaquire, Bowring became acquainted with Bentham and together in 1823 founded the London Greek Committee or the London Philhellenic Committee, an organization dedicated in supporting the Greek Independence movement against the Ottoman Turks. The movement recruited notable personalities, which included the famous classical economist David Ricardo and the famous poet Lord Byron. Together they sold Greek bonds in London to provide funds to the Greeks. Nevertheless, scandals of misappropriation came to light which dragged down the committee’s reputation. It further disintegrated with the demise of Lord Byron in 1824.

The Reception of Lord Byron at Missolonghi by Theodoros Vryzakis

After the London Greek Committee, Bowring decided to join Bentham in managing the radical utilitarian publication Westminister Review. Bentham established the publication in 1824 and in the following year offered Bowring to be his coeditor. Bowring accepted and worked to recruit more writers for the publication. The publication promoted radical ideas for conservative Britain such as Catholic Emancipation as well as universal education alongside free trade. While the publication continued, Bowring began to earn the ire of his colleagues for his heavy handed approach and even arrogance that even Bentham noticed. In 1832 Jeremy Bentham passed away leaving most of his written works to Bowring whom he appointed as his literary executor. Then on, Bowring worked to compile, organize, and add to the huge collection of Bentham’s works. It eventually resulted to publication of an 11 volume on compilation of Bentham’s work in 1843.

Literary Life

Alongside with his activities with the Westminister Review, Bowring pursued his second passion, foreign literature. He read and translated many literary works that aimed in introducing to the British readers the creativity of other cultures which he hoped to lead to better understanding. His focus laid with Eastern European, Dutch and Spanish literatures.

Series of Bowring’s translation came out in the 1820’s. In 1821 – 1823, the Specimens of Russian Poets appeared in bookshelves which Bowring aiming “to introduce to English readers the bards of other countries, who have as yet found no interpreter, would probably meet with encouragement.” He discussed great Russian writers such as Lomonosov and Karamsin.

In 1824, his Batavian Anthology, in collaboration with Harry Van Dyk, began its publication. He hoped to give light to the Dutch literature which laid closer to home as he said, “There is a country almost within sight of the shores of our island, whose literature is less known to us than that of Persia or Hindustan… Its language claims a close kindred with our own; and its government has been generally such as to excite the sympathies of an English spirit.” His contribution in expanding the knowledge of Dutch literature contributed to his receipt of an honorary doctorate in law from the University of Groningen.

The Dutch Anthology soon followed by the Ancient Poetry and Romances of Spain in the same year. Then in 1827 the Specimens of the Polish Poets and the Servian (Serbian) Popular Poetry came out.  Later on, despite his busy work, he published in 1843 the Queen’s Court, a compilation of Bohemian Lyrics.

In 1827, Bowring met financially difficulty after his firm collapsed. He hoped to work as a professor of literature in the University of London, but failed. He decided to work in the foreign office under Secretary Lord Palmerston.

See also:
Sir John Bowring - Part 2

Bibliography:

Conway, Stephen. “Bowring, John (1792-1872). The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Utilitarianism. Edited by James Crimmins. New York, New York: Bloosmbury Academic, 2017.

Tsang, Steve. History of Hong Kong. New York, New York: I.B. Tauris, 2007.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Sir John Bowring.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed on June 20, 2020. URL: https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Bowring