Born in Honiton, Bowerman moved to Clerkenwell in London at an early age.

In 1872 he briefly worked for Hour newspaper before moving to The Daily Telegraph.

He joined the London Society of Compositors in 1873 and became its General Secretary in 1892, a post he held until 1906.

In 1893, Bowerman joined the Fabian Society, and in 1897, he was elected to the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, the body which later became the General Council.

In 1901, was elected as a Progressive Party alderman on London County Council, a position he held until 1907.