BOWRING, Sts John, English statesman and linguist: b. Exeter, 17 Oct. 1792; d. there, 23 Nov. 1872. While still very young he en tered a business house in his native town and in 1811 became clerk to a London firm, on whose business he traveled to Spain. Soon afterward he started on his own account and made many journeys to the Continent. Hav ing extraordinary linguistic ability he made use of his residence in foreign countries to acquire the different languages and his first publications consisted of translations, especially of the popular poetry of many of the countries he had visited. At the same time he appeared as a supporter of the Radical politics of the time and of the views of Jeremy Bentham, whose works he edited, and acted as first editor of the Westminister Review from 1824 till 1830. His public life began in 1828, when he was sent to Holland to make a report on the public ac counts of that kingdom. His letters from there, which appeared, in The Morning Herald and were afterward translated into Dutch, procured for him the degree of doctor of laws from the University of Groningen. He afterward received similar commissions to France, Swit zerland, Italy, Egypt, Syria and Germany and the Blue-books which appeared from his pen on these separate occasions are considered as models of their kind. He was member of Par
liament for the Kilmarnock burghs from 1835 to 1837 and for Bolton from 1841 to 1849. In the year last mentioned he accepted the lucrative post of consul at Canton and his services during the four years that he held this post were so appreciated by the ministry that in 1854, the year after his return, he received the honor of knighthood and was appointed governor of Hongkong. As governor of Hongkong he acted with the same energy that he had manifested when consul at Canton; but the step which he took in ordering Canton to be bombarded to punish the Chinese for an insult offered to the British flag, although ap proved by Lord Palmerston, then the head of the government, led to his recall March 1857. The last public commission he received was in 1860, when he was sent to Italy to report on the commercial relations with the new kingdom. He published 'The Kingdom and People of Siam); and his 'Autobiographical Reminiscences' appeared in 1877. He will, perhaps, be longest remembered as the author of the familiar hymn, 'Watchman, Tell Us of the Night.'