Sir Albert Bowen, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Albert Edward Bowen, 1st Baronet (November 1858 – 19 September 1924) was an English
businessman who spent much of his life in Argentina
.
Bowen was born in Hanley, Staffordshire. His family emigrated to Canada
when he was a boy and he was educated at Upper Canada College
in Toronto
. At the age of 21 he moved to Buenos Aires
, Argentina, and entered business, rapidly becoming successful and wealthy.
In 1895 he returned to England, intending to retire and enjoy his fortune. However, he soon returned to work, joining the board
of Wilson, Sons & Co, coal
merchants. He took more directorships, until he sat on the board of eight companies, most of them associated with Argentina, including the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway
and the Buenos Aires Western Railway
. He joined the board of the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway in 1908 and became chairman in 1916, holding the post until his death. He continued to pay periodical visits to Argentina, where his great knowledge of the country and fluency in Spanish
were great assets to his companies. He was attributed with the construction of the Buenos Aires/Chile railway line over the Andes.
He was High Sheriff
of Bedfordshire
in 1910–1911. During the First World War he served on many government committees.
For his many services to his country and to business, Bowen was created a Baronet
in the 1921 New Year Honours.
On 24 April 1884, Bowen married Alice Anita Crowther. They had five children: Winifred Ada Bowen, Gertrude Dorothy Bowen, Evelyn Constance Bowen, Major Sir Edward Crowther Bowen, 2nd Baronet, and Harold Cedric Bowen. Their first daughter, Winifred, married Alexander Cobbe
, an officer in the Indian Army
and a recipient of the Victoria Cross
. Their second daughter, Gertrude, married Sir Kinahan Cornwallis
married, a British
diplomat.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
businessman who spent much of his life in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Bowen was born in Hanley, Staffordshire. His family emigrated to 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...
when he was a boy and he was educated at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. At the age of 21 he moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina, and entered business, rapidly becoming successful and wealthy.
In 1895 he returned to England, intending to retire and enjoy his fortune. However, he soon returned to work, joining the board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Wilson, Sons & Co, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
merchants. He took more directorships, until he sat on the board of eight companies, most of them associated with Argentina, including the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway
Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway
The Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway was one of the Big Four broad gauge, , British-owned companies that built and operated railway networks in Argentina...
and the Buenos Aires Western Railway
Buenos Aires Western Railway
The Buenos Aires Western Railway was one of the Big Four broad gauge British-owned companies that built and operated railway networks in Argentina...
. He joined the board of the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway in 1908 and became chairman in 1916, holding the post until his death. He continued to pay periodical visits to Argentina, where his great knowledge of the country and fluency in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
were great assets to his companies. He was attributed with the construction of the Buenos Aires/Chile railway line over the Andes.
He was High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
in 1910–1911. During the First World War he served on many government committees.
For his many services to his country and to business, Bowen was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in the 1921 New Year Honours.
On 24 April 1884, Bowen married Alice Anita Crowther. They had five children: Winifred Ada Bowen, Gertrude Dorothy Bowen, Evelyn Constance Bowen, Major Sir Edward Crowther Bowen, 2nd Baronet, and Harold Cedric Bowen. Their first daughter, Winifred, married Alexander Cobbe
Alexander Cobbe
General Sir Alexander Stanhope Cobbe VC GCB KCSI DSO was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, an officer in the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and a recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. Their second daughter, Gertrude, married Sir Kinahan Cornwallis
Kinahan Cornwallis
Sir Kirnahan Cornwallis, GCMG, CBE, DSO was a British administrator and diplomat best known for being an advisor to King Faisal and for being the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Iraq during the Anglo-Iraqi War.-Biography:...
married, a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat.