Edward Bowen (politician)

The Honourable Edward Bowen
1st Chief Justice of the Superior Court for Quebec French: L'honorable juge en chef de la Cour supérieure du Québec
In office 1849–1866
Succeeded by	The Hon. Sir William Collis Meredith QC
2nd Chancellor of Bishop's University
In office 1856–1858
Preceded by	The Hon. William Walker
Succeeded by	The Hon. John Samuel McCord
Personal details
Born	(1780-12-01)December 1, 1780 Kinsale, County Cork
Died	April 11, 1866(1866-04-11) (aged 85) Quebec City
Resting place	Mount Hermon Cemetery, Sillery
Spouse	Eliza Davidson
Children	16
Residences	5 Mount Carmel Street Quebec City
Alma mater	Drogheda Academy
Profession	Judge lawyer politician author

Edward Bowen (December 1, 1780 – April 11, 1866) was an Irish-born lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada. He was the first Chief Justice of the Superior Court for provincial Quebec, the second Chancellor of Bishop's University, in Sherbrooke, and the first King's Counsel in Lower Canada in 1809.^[1]

Bowen's success in Eastern/French Canada came from his "family relationships, social connections, his numerous office positions, and his ability." However, Bowen also solidified his status as an elite in colonial affairs by "working together with the British commercial bourgeoisie, monopolizing executive and state patronage in posts, land speculation, and contracts, and controlling much of the legislative power." What made Bowen himself the man to go to with legal issues in Quebec in particular, was the fact that "Bowen had a good knowledge of the French and of French laws - unlike many within the aforementioned administrating group of the Colony following and representing British rule onto the Lower and Upper/Eastern and Western Canadians.^[2]