THE senior Town-Clerk Depute of Glasgow is a native of
Dundee, and served an apprenticeship in the office of Messrs. Walker & Ewing,
solicitors, there. In the end of 1870 he came to the office of Messrs. Mitchell,
Macnee, & Mitchell (now Mitchells, Johnston, & Co.), in Glasgow, where he
devoted himself largely to conveyancing for four years. At the same time he
studied at the University under the late Professor Roberton, and distinguished
himself in the honours list of the Conveyancing class. He also attended the
class of Scots Law under the late Professor (afterwards Sheriff) Berry for two
sessions; appeared in the first-class honours list for both sessions, gained one
of the prizes for general eminence, and the first prize in a special written
examination at the instance of the Faculty of Procurators.
Sir James Marwick had been appointed Town Clerk early in 1873. and at the close
of 1874 he invited Mr. Bowers to join his staff. On that staff he remained till
the end of Sir James's term of office in 1905. He was admitted a law agent in
1876, was appointed as Junior Town Clerk Depute in 1897, and on the resignation
of Sir James he acted as Interim Town Clerk till the present Town Clerk (Mr.
Myles) took office, when he was appointed Senior Depute Town Clerk.
Mr. Bowers' experience has covered every department of the
city's municipal and legal work. He has acted as secretary and legal adviser to
the Gas, Water, City Improvements, and Electricity Departments, has carried
through many lawsuits and arbitrations, has arranged the details of a vast deal
of Parliamentary work, and has been of service in every department of the Town
Clerk's office.
His holidays have mostly been spent abroad, and he has an
interesting knowledge of most of the European capitals, from the Baltic to the
Bosphorus.
Back to
Index of Glasgow Men (1909)