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Finding Aid for the Sir John Bowring Papers, 1839-1857
722
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Title: Sir John Bowring Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1839-1857
Collection number: 722
Creator: Bowring, John, Sir, 1792-1872
Extent: 5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)
Abstract: Sir John Bowring (1792-1872) undertook commercial missions on behalf of the government, examining the accounting and financial
systems of other governments, which led to a change in the English Exchequer. In 1824, his friend Jeremy Bentham founded the
Westminster Review, and Bowring became one of the first editors. He served as a member of Parliament intermittently between 1835-47 and worked
vigorously for the repeal of the corn laws. Also served as British consul at Canton, 1847-54, and from 1854-60 he served as
plenipotentiary to China, governor, commander-in-chief and vice-admiral of Hong Kong. He established diplomatic relations
with Siam in 1855. He authored many books on travels and politics. The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts,
and related printed material comprising a portion of the official and semi-official records of Sir John Bowring's diplomatic
missions in China.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Bowring was born on October 17, 1792 in Exeter, England; after school in Exeter, he spent four years in a merchant's house
where he learned a variety of languages; in 1811 he became clerk in the London house of Milford & Company, subsequently going
into business on his own; later undertook commercial missions on behalf of the government, examining the accounting and financial
systems of other governments, which led to a change in the English Exchequer; in 1824 his friend Jeremy Bentham founded the
Westminster Review, and Bowring became one of the first editors; served as a member of Parliament intermittently between 1835-47; was closely
connected with Richard Cobden, and worked vigorously for the repeal of the corn laws; served as British consul at Canton,
1847-54; from 1854-60 he served as plenipotentiary to China, and governor, commander-in-chief, and vice-admiral of Hong Kong;
established diplomatic relations with Siam in 1855; author of many books on travels and politics; he died on November 23,
1872.
John Bowring, English diplomat, linguist, writer, and traveller was born at Exeter, October 17, 1792, and was the eldest son
of Charles Bowring of Lakebeare. Bowring received his education in Exeter, and upon leaving school entered a merchant's house
there. During the four years that he remained with this firm, he laid the foundations for his linguistic attainments, becoming
farmiliar with the French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, and Dutch languages. Later he acquired sufficient knowledge
of Swedish, Danish, Russian, Servian, Polish, Arabic, Magyar, Bohemian, and Chinese to enable him to translate works in those
languages.
In 1811 Bowring became a clerk in the London house of Milford & Company and subsequently went into business on his own, travelling
abroad extensively for commercial purposes. This experience qualified him for the various commercial missions he later undertook
on behalf of his government. These were in the nature of examining the accounting and financial systems of other countries.
Reports of these missions, particularly that of the commission to examine the accounts of the United Kingdom, of which Bowring
was secretary, led to a complete change in the English exchequer, and was the foundation of all improvements which have since
been made.
Jeremy Bentham, intimate friend and advisor of Bowring, founded the
Westminster Review in 1824, and Bowring became one of its first editors, writing political as well as linguistic articles for the journal. His
political views also found expression in Parliament, where he served as a member from the Clyde burghs and other districts
intermittently between 1835 and 1847. He was closely connected with Richard Cobden and others in the establishment of the
Anti-Corn Law League in 1838 and worked vigorously in Parliament for the repeal of the corn laws.
Collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, and related printed material comprising a portion of the official and
semi-official records of Sir John Bowring's diplomatic missions in China. Correspondents include Charles John Canning, George
Frederich Villiers (4th Earl of Clarendon), Sir Thomas Wade, Sir James Stirling, and William Miller.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Bowring, John, Sir, 1792-1872--Archives.
Governors general--China--Hong Kong--Archival resources.
Great Britain--Foreign relations--China.