Paul Bowes d.1702

Paul BOWES d.1702

Biographical Note

Born at Great Bromley, Essex, son of Sir Thomas Bowes. Matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge 1650, but did not graduate; he was admitted at the Middle Temple 1654 (barrister 1661). Besides developing a successful legal practice, he had active antiquarian interests, and edited the historical work left by his uncle, Sir Simonds d'Ewes, The journals of all the parliaments during the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1682, with later editions). He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1699 (though this may be an error for his son Martin).

Books

We do not know the size or contents of Bowes's library, but it is likely to have been significant; in his will, he divided his books between his two eldest sons. All his divinity books went to his second son Richard, "who I hope will be studious and industrious prosperous and successfull in the studdy of divinity". The rest of his books went to his first son Martin.

Sources

• Will of Paul Bowes, The National Archives PROB 11/465/310.
• Goodwin, Gordon, and David Dean. "Bowes, Paul (d. 1702), lawyer and antiquary." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.