A native of the Canadian province of Ontario, James Bowman moved to Manitoba at a young age and attended high school in the town of Portage La Prairie. After studying law he was called to the provincial bar in 1911 and began practicing in the city of Dauphin for the firm Bowman, McFadden and Bowman. He soon became politically active and, in 1917, was elected the town’s mayor, a position in which he served for two years. In 1923 he was appointed to the King’s Council, then an honorary recognition for prominent law professionals in the country. He had two unsuccessful runs for Canadian parliament in 1925 and 1926 prior to winning a seat in 1930. His federal career was low-key until January 1935, when then-Prime Minister R. B. Bennett appointed him as Speaker of the House of Commons to replace an ill predecessor. Although commended for his work during tough times, with little experience, he was defeated in the 1935 federal elections and returned to his law practice. During his time as a Member of Parliament he attended the 1932 Winter Olympics and, with a provincial delegation, won that year’s curling demonstration event. He did attempt another run for Parliament in 1940 but, after failing to win back his seat, retired from political life. He did, however, receive a lifetime appointment to the Privy Council of Canada, an elite group of consultants to the Canadian monarchy, in 1949.
Canada