BOWEN, FRANCIS (1811-189o), American philosophical writer and educator, was born in Charlestown (Mass.) on Sept. 8, 1811. He graduated at Harvard in 1833, taught at Phillips Exeter academy, and became a tutor and instructor at Harvard. After several years of study in Europe, he settled in Cambridge (Mass.), and was editor and proprietor of the North American Review . In 1850 he was named professor of history at Harvard; but his appointment was disapproved by the board of overseers on account of his reactionary political opinions. In 18S3 he was made Alford professor of natural religion, moral philosophy and civil polity. He died in Boston (Mass.) on Jan.
22, 1890.
His writings include contributions to Sparks' Library of American Biography; Lowell Lectures on the Application of Metaphysical and Ethical Science to the Evidences of Religion (1849) ; A Treatise on Logic (1864) ; American Political Economy (1870) ; and Gleanings from a Literary Life (188o).