Bowring
SIR JOHN, an English linguist, author and diplomat, born in Exeter, Oct. 17, 1792; was a great traveler and a close student; and boasted that he knew 200 languages and could speak 100. In 1825 he became editor of the "Westminster Review," in which he advocated free trade by repeal of the Corn Laws in advance of Bright and Cobden.
He was a member of Parliament in 1835- 1837 and 1841-1847; was appointed on various commissions, to France, Switzerland, Italy, Syria, etc. In 1849 he was British consul at Hong-Kong, where he became governor in 1853. He was knighted in 1854. Among his works are "Specimens of the Russian Poets" (London, 1821-1823); "Ancient Poetry and Romances of Spain" (1824); "Specimens of the Polish Poets" (1827); "Serbian Popular Poetry" (1827); "Poetry of the Magyars" (1830); "The Flowery Scroll: a Chinese Novel" (1868); and two important volumes of travel, "The Kingdom and People of Siam" (1857), and "A Visit to the Philippine Islands" (1859).
He edited, with a biography (22 vols., London, 1838), the works of Jeremy Bentham. He was also the author of some well known hymns. He died in Exeter, Nov. 23, 1872.