Richard Spink Bowles
Encyclopedia
Richard Spink Bowles was a lawyer
and office holder in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served as the province's 16th Lieutenant Governor from 1965 to 1970.
Bowles had no political experience prior to his appointment as Lt. Governor, and was only the second non-political appointee to the position (James Duncan McGregor
was the first, although McGregor had previously worked for the federal government in a non-partisan capacity).
Bowles was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
and Manitoba Law School. He practiced law from 1937 to 1965, starting his own firm in 1940. He became the first President of Winnipeg's Home and School Association in 1952, and was Chairman of the Winnipeg Board of Parks and Recreation in 1956-57. He was named President of the Manitoba Bar Association
in 1961, and also served as President of the Law Society of Manitoba
in 1964-65.
His appointment as Lt. Governor came in recognition of his legal and community work. The position was primarily ceremonial by this time. Bowles might have been entrusted with determining Manitoba's government after the inclusive 1969 election, but the defection of Liberal
MLA Laurent Desjardins
to the New Democratic Party
made this unnecessary.
Bowles returned to private law practice after his term in office ended. In 1969, he presented an essay on Adams George Archibald
(the first Lt. Governor of Manitoba
) to the Manitoba Historical Society
. He later served as Chancellor of the University of Manitoba
from 1974 to 1977.
In 1972, Bowles campaigned for the federal House of Commons
as a Liberal
, in the rural riding of Lisgar
. Due to the prestige of his former office, there was widespread speculation that he would be appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
if elected. As it happened, however, he lost to Progressive Conservative
Jack Murta
by 17253 votes to 4469, and did not return to political life thereafter.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and office holder in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as the province's 16th Lieutenant Governor from 1965 to 1970.
Bowles had no political experience prior to his appointment as Lt. Governor, and was only the second non-political appointee to the position (James Duncan McGregor
James Duncan McGregor
James Duncan McGregor was a Canadian agricultural pioneer and office holder. He served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba between 1929 and 1934....
was the first, although McGregor had previously worked for the federal government in a non-partisan capacity).
Bowles was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and Manitoba Law School. He practiced law from 1937 to 1965, starting his own firm in 1940. He became the first President of Winnipeg's Home and School Association in 1952, and was Chairman of the Winnipeg Board of Parks and Recreation in 1956-57. He was named President of the Manitoba Bar Association
Manitoba Bar Association
The Manitoba Bar Association is an organization of lawyers in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is a non-profit professional association, and is a branch of the Canadian Bar Association. As of 2011, it has approximately 1,300 members. Its current President is Ken Mandzuik.-External...
in 1961, and also served as President of the Law Society of Manitoba
Law Society of Manitoba
The Law Society of Manitoba is the self-governing body for lawyers in Manitoba, Canada. Its mandate is to regulate the legal profession.To practice law in the Province of Manitoba, a person must be a member of the Law Society of Manitoba. The Law Society of Manitoba sets its own admission...
in 1964-65.
His appointment as Lt. Governor came in recognition of his legal and community work. The position was primarily ceremonial by this time. Bowles might have been entrusted with determining Manitoba's government after the inclusive 1969 election, but the defection of Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
MLA Laurent Desjardins
Laurent Desjardins
Laurent Desjardins is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Manitoba legislature for most of the period from 1959 to 1988, and was a cabinet minister under New Democratic Premiers Edward Schreyer and Howard Pawley.Desjardins was educated at St. Boniface College, St...
to the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
made this unnecessary.
Bowles returned to private law practice after his term in office ended. In 1969, he presented an essay on Adams George Archibald
Adams George Archibald
Sir Adams George Archibald, KCMG, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as 1st Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1872.Archibald was born in Truro to a prominent family in Nova...
(the first Lt. Governor of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
) to the Manitoba Historical Society
Manitoba Historical Society
The Manitoba Historical Society is a historical society in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It was created by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 1879, and describes itself as "the oldest organization in western Canada devoted to the promotion of public interest in, and preservation...
. He later served as Chancellor of the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
from 1974 to 1977.
In 1972, Bowles campaigned for the federal House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, in the rural riding of Lisgar
Lisgar (electoral district)
Lisgarwas a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1871 to 1988. This riding was created following the admission of Manitoba into the Canadian Confederation in 1870....
. Due to the prestige of his former office, there was widespread speculation that he would be appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
if elected. As it happened, however, he lost to Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Jack Murta
Jack Murta
Jack Burnett Murta, is a former Canadian politician.Born in Carman, Manitoba, the son of John James Murta and Jean Murta, he graduated from the Diploma course in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba in 1964....
by 17253 votes to 4469, and did not return to political life thereafter.