Born at Stockport, Cheshire, on February 17th, 1818, the son of George and Sarah Bowring. He came of the family of Bowrings of Edensor, Derbyshire, which dates back to 1600. He was educated at the Bradford Grammar School and received his professional training at King’s College Hospital. He settled at 7 Clifford Street, Oxford Road, Manchester, and was appointed Surgeon to the Salford and Pendleton Royal Hospital and Dispensary. In a few years’ time he moved to 186 Oxford Road, and was appointed Dispensary Surgeon to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, and later Assistant Surgeon. It is on record that he was the first to give chloroform at the Infirmary. In 1871 he was also Medical Officer to the Manchester Workhouse, and before 1875 was appointed Surgeon to the Royal Infirmary. At the time of his death he was Consulting Surgeon to this institution, as well as Surgeon to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. He was for many years Churchwarden at the Manchester Cathedral during the time of its restoration, and his head is represented in the carving at the base of one of the arches leading from the nave to the east end. There is also a large oil painting of him which will be presented to the Royal Infirmary. He married Frances Walmsley on July 30th, 1864, and had one son and three daughters. The son died sine prole and the daughters remained unmarried. His death occurred in Manchester on March 3rd, 1902, and he was buried at St Peter’s, Stockport.