Owen was born in Raymond Terrace, New South Wales and spent early years in Wallsend.
He became a schoolteacher in 1885, with his first posting at Minmi, and taught for sixteen years in various New South Wales towns, including Junee and Goulburn, before finishing his teaching career at Hamilton.
A one-time member of his local Labor League in the early 1890s, Gilbert was a committed free-trader by the time of Federation, and resigned from his teaching post in 1901 to contest the inaugural 1901 federal election as a Free Trade Party candidate in the seat of Newcastle; however, he was soundly defeated.
[1][2][3][4][5] Following his federal loss, Gilbert contested and won the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Newcastle West for the Liberal Reform Party at the 1901 state election three months later.
Having reportedly had a history of heart problems, he collapsed on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst and died in the Sydney Hospital.