The eldest son of George K Cowell, an Ipswich surgeon; served as an apprentice to a practitioner in Birmingham; entered as a student at St George's Hospital, where he held minor and residential appointments under Henry Gray (qv), the anatomist, Prescott Hewett (qv), and Timothy Holmes (qv). Shortly after qualifying he was appointed Surgeon to the St George's and St James's Dispensary, and at the same time became Clinical Assistant at Moorfields, where he studied ophthalmology for ten years, though, like other ophthalmologists of that epoch, he always remained a general surgeon. Shortly after passing the Fellowship he was appointed an Assistant Surgeon to Westminster Hospital, and thus began a connection with that institution which lasted for fifty-six years. He was Lecturer on Surgery and Ophthalmic Surgery for twenty years, was promoted full Surgeon in 1878, and held that post till he was appointed Consulting Surgeon in 1896. This period covered the rebuilding of the out-patient department, the medical school, and the chapel, with all of which work he was closely associated. After being Dean of the Medical School for five years he became Treasurer of the School and held that post for fifteen years. While Assistant Surgeon at the Westminster Hospital he was appointed Surgeon to the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, then in King William Street, Charing Cross, where for twenty-seven years he interested himself warmly in the management of the institution, both scientifically and from the business point of view. He was Consulting Surgeon to the institution at the time of his death. Next to his work as an ophthalmic surgeon, and closely associated with it, must be mentioned Cowell's activities on behalf of children. In 1866 he was the virtual founder of the Victoria Hospital for Children in Chelsea, and for twenty years was associated as Surgeon and Ophthalmic Surgeon with the new institution. During the same period he found time to hold the appointment of Surgeon to the East London Hospital for Children, also to lecture on surgery and ophthalmology at the School of Medicine for Women founded at the Royal Free Hospital in 1874. When Dr Barnardo founded his Homes for derelict children he turned to Cowell for assistance, and no medical man did more than he for the establishment of this fine philanthropy upon sound grounds. No doubt its religious side had particular attraction for him as he was a zealous supporter of the Guild of St Luke, and, except for the Rev Canon Henry Arnott (FRCS, fourth in the chronological List of Fellows), was at his death the senior brother of the Guild. As a Freemason he attained the degree of Past Grand Deacon of the United Grand Lodge and was the first Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Freemasons' Hospital. He died at his residence in Nevern Square on November 18th, 1927. He married the widow of George Hamilton Roe, MD, and of John Riley, and daughter of John Laurie, MP for Barnstaple. There were no children. Mrs Cowell died in 1895. Publications: *An Introductory Address . . . Westminster Hospital Medical School*,12mo, London, 1873. "Westminster Hospital and its Medical School." - *Westminster Hosp. Rep*., 1885, i, 1. *Lectures on Cataract; its Causes, Varieties, and Treatment*: being six lectures delivered at the Westminster Hospital, 12mo, London, 1883. "Causes of Failure in Excision of the Hip." - 8vo, London, 1885; reprinted from *Westminster Hosp. Rep*., 1885, i, 47. "Note on New Mode of Distinguishing between Hypermetropia and Myopia by Ophthalmoscope." - *Ophthal. Hosp. Rep.*, 1866, v, 226. "Retinitis." - *St George's Hosp. Rep.*, 1869, iv, 115. "Clinical Lectures." - Lancet, 1890, ii, 1013. *Life and Letters of Edward Bytes Cowell* (the author's cousin and well-known Oriental scholar). *A Visit to Moscow*, Sturges Lecture for 1897, 8vo, London, 1899.