Edward Ernest Bowen (30 March 1836 – 8 April 1901) was a first-class cricketer, footballer, and an influential schoolmaster at Harrow School from 1859 until his death, and the author of the Harrow school song, "Forty Years On". He was notable in football for winning the first two FA Cup finals with the Wanderers.
Biography
The son of Christopher Bowen, he was born at Glenmore in Ireland; his elder brother was Charles Bowen, a well-known judge. He was educated in England at Blackheath Proprietary School and King's College, London before entering Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] While studying at Cambridge, Bowen served as president of the Cambridge Union in 1856.[1] After graduating from Cambridge, he was appointed an assistant master at Marlborough College in 1858, and moved to Harrow School in 1859.[2] He was appointed a fellow of Trinity College in the same year as his move to Harrow.[1] As a schoolmaster, Bowen believed that boys must be interested in his lessons and at ease with him. This was in contrast with the grave formality typical of the Victorian era. He was the founder of the "modern side" at Harrow, which gave prominence to subjects other than Latin and Greek.[2] Bowen was the author of the Harrow school song, "Forty Years On",[1] which is still sung today, and to which an extra verse was later added in honour of Winston Churchill. He also wrote many other Harrow School songs along with the then Master in Charge of Music, many of which are sung by the school to this day at occasions known as songs every term. While at Harrow, he was housemaster of The Grove boarding house.
It was whilst on a cycling tour of France in 1901 that Bowen died suddenly at the village of Moux. Despite seemingly having been in perfect health,[11] it was noted that his sudden death occurred while he was trying to mount his bicycle.[8]Cyril Norwood said of him that he had "kept the eternal boy alive within his own breast to the very end".[12] His elder brother was also a first-class cricketer. His grandson, I. M. B. Stuart, was an Irish rugby union international and broadcaster.