Edward Bowen - Definition and Overview

Edward Ernest Bowen (1836-1901) was an influential schoolmaster at Harrow School from 1859 until his death. Bowen believed that boys must be interested in his lessons and at ease with the teacher - in contrast to the grave formality typical of the Victorian schoolmaster. Bowen was the founder of the "modern side" at Harrow, which gave prominence to subjects other than Latin and Greek. Bowen was also an enthusiastic sportsman and pedestrian. As an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge, he walked the 90 miles from Cambridge to Oxford in 26 hours; at Harrow, he was the first master to identify himself thoroughly with sports and games; and he was involved in the establishment of the English Football Association. Bowen is best remembered as the author of the Harrow school song, Forty Years On, which is still sung today, and to which an extra verse was later added in honour of Winston Churchill.