Bowen was born in County Mayo, Ireland and studied law for two years at Cambridge University.

[1] His law training led to a position as private secretary to John Robert Godley, founder of the Canterbury colony.

[4] Following their return to Christchurch, Bowen was appointed resident magistrate in 1864, succeeding Joseph Brittan, who had resigned on health grounds.

Bowen was directly appointed to cabinet (by way of the Legislative Council) on 16 December 1874, but wary of criticism that a public servant had been awarded political office, he resigned from the Legislative Council[6] and stood for election to the House of Representatives in the 22 January 1875 Kaiapoi by-election, following the resignation of John Studholme on 8 December 1874.

[1] He died on 12 December 1917 at his homestead[10] and is buried at the cemetery of St Peter's Church in Upper Riccarton.