BOWLING, Sir JOHN. an English politician, linguist, and -author, was b. at Exeter, 17th Oct., 1792. He early devoted himself to the study of languages, in the acquisition of which he displayed an unusual degree of talent. The national poetry of different peoples had particular attractions for lum, and he rendered great service to literature by collecting and translating both the more ancient and the more modern popular poems of almost all the countries of Europe. His translations preserve remarkably well both the meaning and the spirit of the original, and exhibit no mean powers of versification. B. was very intimately associated with Jeremy Bentham, who appointed him one of his executors, and intrusted him with the editing of his collected works. A descendant of the old Puritans, he early came for ward in writing and against the political disadvantages experienced by dissenters. He took part from the first in the 11i.stminster Rerkw, which was established in 1824, and edited it for about five years from 1825. In 1828 he visited Holland; and his letters—which appeared in the ,Iforning Herald, and were shortly afterwards translated into Dutch—procured for him the degree of doctor of laws from the university of Groningen. Subsequent travels were undertaken by him, on a commission from the British government, to inquire into the commercial relations of certain states. He visited Switzerland, Italy, Egypt. Syria, and finally the countries of
the German ZollYerein, and everywhere found materials for valuable reports. Ile was a member of the house of commons from 1835 to 1837, and again from 1841 to 1899, and actively promoted the adoptioq, of free trade. In 1899, B. was appointed British consul at Hong-Kong, and superintendent of trade in China. He returned in 1853, and in the following yearwas made knight and governor of Hong•Kong. In an insult having been offered to a Chinese vessel said to have been under the protection of the British flag, B., without consulting the home government, ordered an attack on certain Chinese forts, a proceeding which excited considerable dissatisfaction in the country, and pro duced a ministerial crisis. B. afterwards returned to England. In 1855, he concluded a commercial treaty with Siam. and has given an interesting account of his visit in a work entitled The 'Kingdom and People of SA1717. He retired on a pension in 1859. and afterwards published an account of the Philippine islands. In 1861, B. was sent on an official mission to Italy. He died in 1872. His Autobiographical Reminiscences were published in 1877.