Born in Penzance, Rowe was educated at the Friars School, Bangor, and then at the University of London.
He became a journalist, writing for numerous publications, and also became active in the Labour Party.
Finally, he stood in South Derbyshire at the 1935 United Kingdom general election, taking a very close second place.
[2] He remained the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate there until 1944, but no further election was called.
[3] In 1932, Rowe qualified as a barrister, and after World War II, he focused on his legal career.