He served in the Australian Army during World War II and subsequently studied law at the University of Sydney.

He served as Minister for Trade (1983–1984) and Attorney-General (1984–1990) until his retirement from politics in 1990, and was later chair of the National Gallery of Australia.

[1] Bowen was educated at Cleveland Street public school, Marcellin College Randwick and Sydney University where he graduated with a LLB in 1946 and became a solicitor.

[1][5][4] A significant achievement came when he served as acting education minister in the Whitlam government (during the illness and hospitalization of incumbent education minister Kim Beazley Senior), when he managed to split the opposition and win National Party support in the Senate for needs-based funding for non-government schools.

In July 1983, he was appointed Vice-President of the Executive Council and in the second Hawke ministry, he became Attorney-General, losing the Trade portfolio.

He retired from federal politics prior to the March 1990 election, and was succeeded as Deputy Prime Minister by Paul Keating.

[5] In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal,[7] and in 1991, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to the community and politics.