John Bowes, 1st Baron Bowes

He was born in London, the second son of Thomas Bowes, a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Turners, and his wife, a Miss North, and was called to the Bar in 1712.

[1] He was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland by King George II in 1757, despite the chronic ill-health which afflicted him.

In particular, he was a reforming Lord Chancellor, who was praised for making the Court of Chancery "a terror for fraud, and a comfort and protection for honest men".

[2] As Attorney General he showed considerable courage in going on assize during the Irish Famine (1740–1741) despite the infectious fever which was raging at the time, and which claimed the lives of three other judges who had decided to brave the dangers.

[2] He was considered one of the finest speakers of his time;[2] his speech for the prosecution at the trial of Lord Santry, who was charged with murder in 1739, was described by those who heard it as a masterpiece of eloquence and logic, and led to the Irish House of Lords bringing in a unanimous verdict of guilty against Santry.