John Bowes

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John Bowes (1811-1885) was an English art collector and thoroughbred racehorse owner who founded the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, Teesdale. Born at Streatlam Castle into the wealthy coal mining descendants of George Bowes, he was the child of John Lyon-Bowes, 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (1769-1820) and Mary Milner. Because his parents were unmarried at the time of his birth, he did not inherit the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne title.

Educated at Eton and Cambridge University, John Bowes inherited his father's estates and pursued an interest in theatre, art, and horse racing. A member of the Jockey Club, he owned Streatlam Stud that bred and raised racehorses at Streatlam and Gibside. His stable won the Two Thousand Guineas three times, the Epsom Derby four times, and, in capturing the English Triple Crown with West Australian, won the 1853 St. Leger Stakes.

Bowes was a Reformer in politics, in favour of triennial Parliaments and the removal of Bishops from the House of Lords. He was a Liberal Member of Parliament, for the South Durham constituency, between 1832 and 1847. He also served as Sheriff of County Durham in 1854.

While in Paris, France, John Bowes met and married Joséphine Benoîte. For a time, the couple made their home at the Château du Barry in Louveciennes near Paris. They shared a passion for art and acquired a large collection that would ultimately be housed in the Bowes Museum. Unfortunately both died before their museum project was completed.

[edit] References

• Charles E. Hardy - John Bowes and the Bowes Museum (1970, reprinted 1982) ISBN 0-9508165-0-7
• Bowes Museum collections
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by new constituency	Member for South Durham with Joseph Pease 1832-41 Lord Harry George Vane 1841-47 1832–1847	Succeeded by James Farrer Lord Harry George Vane