Bowen, Charles C. (Charles Christopher), 1830-1917

Charles Christopher Bowen was born in Ireland in 1830. He was educated at Rugby School and studied for one year at the University of Cambridge before emigrating with his family in 1850 to Canterbury, New Zealand. Between 1851 and 1852, he served as private secretary to J.R. Godley, agent of the Canterbury Association, and in 1852, became a justice of the peace.

When the Canterbury provincial government was formed in 1853, Bowen was appointed inspector of police and chief clerk to the resident magistrate and provincial treasurer. Between 1855 and 1859, he served as provincial treasurer and member of the provincial government, and in his spare time he was editor and then joint owner of the Lyttelton Times .

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