| Authorised form of name | Bowman; Sir; William (1816 - 1892); ophthalmic surgeon and anatomist |
| Dates | 1816 - 1892 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Sweetbriar Hall, Hospital Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Date of birth | 20 July 1816 |
| Place of death | Joldwynds, near Dorking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Date of death | 29 March 1892 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Burial:
Churchyard of Holmbury St Mary, Joldwynds, near Dorking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Research field | Physiology |
| Anatomy |
| Ophthalmology |
| Medicine |
| Activity | Education:
Hazelwood School, near Birmingham; Hon LLD Cantab 1880; Hon LLD Edin 1884
Career:
Apprenticed to W. A. Betts of the Birmingham Infirmary, working under Joseph Hodgson, founder of the Birmingham Eye Hospital (1832); joined the medical department of King's College, University of London (1832); elected to staff as Assistant Surgeon, at the newly established King's College Hospital (1839); Demonstrator of Anatomy, King's College Hospital (1839); assistant surgeon to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields (1846); full surgeon (1851-1876); professor of physiology and general anatomy, King's College (1848); became full surgeon to King's College Hospital (1856); died of pneumonia.
Honours:
Bt 1884
Memberships:
FRCS 1844 |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 22/04/1841 |
| Age at election | 25 |
| Proposer | John Edward Gray |
| Frederic Carpenter Skey |
| Martin Barry |
| Fracis Kiernan |
| Peyton Blakiston |
| James Yates |
| Edward Forster |
| George Budd |
| Richard Partridge |
| Robert Bentley Todd |
| Joseph Hodgeson |
| John Forbes |
| RSActivity | Royal Society roles:
VP 1866-1867; VP 1887-1888
Medals and prizes:
Royal Medal 1842 |
| Relationships | Parents: John Eddowes Bowman the elder (1785–1841), banker, botanist and FLS, and his wife and cousin, Elizabeth (1788–1859), daughter of William Eddowes, bookseller of Shrewsbury.
Siblings: Eddowes Bowman, Henry Bowman, and John Eddowes Bowman (1819–1856).
Spouse: (m. 28 December 1842) Harriet Paget (d. 1900), fifth daughter of Thomas Paget, surgeon of Leicester.
Children: 7
Son in law: Sir Alfred Bray Kempe (FRS 1881) |
| PublishedWorks | RCN 29603
RCN 29605
RCN 29604
RCN R66148 |
| OtherInfo | Leading ophthalmic surgeon in London.
Amongst the first in England to become expert in the use of the ophthalmoscope.
Strongly advocated von Graefe's treatment of glaucoma by iridectomy.
Established new methods of treating cases of detached retina and cataract. |
| Royal Society Obituary or Memoir | Click to view (may be contained within a meeting notice, presidential address or list of death notices) |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
| Image | 
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| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB
The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Plarr's Lives of the Fellows, Bowman, Sir William (1816 - 1892), [URL: https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:373121/one?qu=%22rcs:+E000938%22; last accessed: 07/05/2025]
Obituaries:
Proc Roy Soc 1892-1893 vol 52 pp i-vii signed by J P |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/7380655 |
| Code | NA3689 |
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| IM/Maull/000480 | Bowman, Sir William | nd |
| IM/000481 | Bowman, Sir William | nd |
| EC/1841/17 | Bowman, Sir William: certificate of election to the Royal Society | |
| NLB/2/681 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society | 11 October 1888 |
| NLB/2/622 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society | 28 September 1888 |
| NLB/2/742 | Copy letter from [Herbert Rix], to Messrs West, Newman & Company | 26 October 1888 |
| NLB/2/743 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society, Joldwynds, Dorking | 26 October 1888 |
| NLB/2/755 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society | 30 October 1888 |
| NLB/4/502 | Copy letter from Michael Foster, to Sir William Bowman | 19 June 1890 |
| NLB/6/84 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society, 5 Clifford Street, W. | 26 February 1892 |
| NLB/3/239 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, tp Sir William Bowman, [Fellow of the Royal Society] | 17 April 1889 |
| NLB/3/447 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to George Gabriel Stokes, President of the Royal Society | 12 June 1889 |
| NLB/5/179 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society | 10 April 1891 |
| NLB/5/485 | Copy letter from an unknown correspondent, to Messrs Harrison & Sons | 26 June 1891 |
| RR/2/94 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Researches on the distribution of the blood-vessels in the lungs' by James Newton Heale | 15 August 1853 |
| RR/2/157 | Second referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Electro-Physiological resarches. on induced contraction.-Ninth series' by Carlo Matteucci | 22 July 1850 |
| RR/7/6 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'On a distinct form of Transient Hemiopsia' by Hubert Airy | 18 April 1870 |
| RR/1/248 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'On the structure of the dental tissues of the order rodentia' by John Tomes | 25 May 1850 |
| RR/2/47 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'On certain functions of the spinal chord, with further investigations into its structure' by Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke | 15 June 1853 |
| RR/6/154 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Note on the anatomy of the blood-vessel system of the retina of the hedgehog' by John Whitaker Hulke | 18 November 1868 |
| RR/7/7 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'On a distinct form of Transient Hemiopsia' by Hubert Airy | 1870 |
| IM/000478 | Bowman, Sir William | nd |
| IM/Maull/000479 | Bowman, Sir William | nd |
| NLB/2/690 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Professor Michael Foster [Royal Society] | 11 October 1888 |
| NLB/5/100 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Sir William Bowman, Fellow of the Royal Society | 16 March 1891 |
| PT/44/5 | Paper, 'On the development of the ductless glands in the chick' by Henry Gray | [1851] |
| PT/32/14/2 | Plate, Breguet's apparatus by F [Fran] Pierucci | [1847] |
| PT/24/2 | Paper, 'On the minute structure and movements of voluntary muscle' in a letter from Wm [William] Bowman to Robt [Robert] Bentley Todd | 18 June 1840 |
| RR/1/29 | Report by Richard Owen, on a paper 'On the structure and use of the malpighian bodies of the kidney, with observations on the circulation through that gland' by William Bowman | 11 April 1842 |
| RR/1/16 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'An experimental inquiry undertaken with the view of ascertaining whether any, and what signs of current electricity are manifested during the organic process of secretion in living animals, being an attempt to apply some of the discoveries of Faraday to physiology' by H F Baxter | 31 July 1848 |
| RR/2/32 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'On the motions of the iris' by Bernard E Brodhurst | 22 April 1852 |
| RR/2/30 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'The human iris; its structure and physiology' by Bernard E. Brodhurst | 23 August 1851 |
| PT/32/14/1 | Letter, 'Note be added to Signor Carlo Matteucci's 7th series of electro-physiological researches' from Carlo Matteucci to William Bowman | [1847] |
| RR/2/156 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on two papers 'Electro-Physiological researches. —eighth series' and 'Electro-Physiological resarches. on induced contraction.-Ninth series' by Carlo Matteucci | 23 February 1850 |
| RR/2/174 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'The reproduction of the Ascaris mystax' by Henry Nelson | 22 April 1852 |
| RR/2/27 | Letter from William Bowman, on a paper 'On the dentate body of the cerebellum' by William Brinton to Benjamin Collins Brodie | 23 July 1852 |
| MC/3 | Volume 3 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society | 1839-1843 |
| MC/3/219 | Letter from William Bowman to Samuel Hunter Christie, [Secretary of the Royal Society] | 2 June 1842 |
| MC/4/254 | Letter from [Henry Foster] Baxter, 12 New Burlington [?] Square, to [William] Bowman, 14 Golden Square | 31 July 1848 |
| PT/75/1/1 | Drawing, 'Tetanus - part of p. fasc. [primitive fasciculi] of complexus' by [William Bowman?] | 19 February 1841 |
| PT/74/7/6 | Drawings, muscle tissues from various animals by [William Bowman] | [1840] |
| PT/75/2/1 | Drawings, Malpighian bodies in the livers of various animals by [William Bowman] | [1842] |
| MC/4 | Volume 4 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society | 1844-1850 |
| PT/25/3 | Paper, 'Additional note on the contraction of voluntary muscle in the living body' by Wm [William] Bowman | 6 April 1841 |
| PT/32/14 | Letter, 'Note to be added to Signor Carlo Matteucci's 7th series of electro-physiological researches' from Carlo Matteucci to William Bowman | [1847] |
| AP/27/9 | Unpublished paper, 'An account of some experiments exhibiting new instances of the absorbing power of steams; with a few remarks on the pulsation of jets' by G Robinson | 1844 |
| AP/28/20 | Unpublished paper, 'On some peculiarities of foetal digestion' by George Robinson | June 1846 |
| PT/74/7/5 | Drawings, muscle tissues from various animals by [William Bowman] | [1840] |
| AP/27/9/1 | Unpublished manuscript, 'An account of some experiments exhibiting new instances of the absorbing power of steams; with a few remarks on the pulsation of jets' by G Robinson | 1844 |
| RR/2/197 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Description of a muscle of the striped variety, situated at the posterior part of the choroid coat of the eye in mammals, with an explanation of its mode of action in adapting the eye to distinct vision at different distances' by George Rainey | 22 May 1851 |
| AP/40/9 | Unpublished paper, 'On the electrical nature of the power possessed by Actiniae of our shores' by Robert McDonnell | 1857 |
| AP/45/9 | Unpublished paper, 'On the amyloid substance of the liver, and its ultimate destination in the animal economy' by Robert McDonnell | 1863 |
| AP/45/9/1 | Unpublished manuscript, 'On the amyloid substance of the liver, and its ultimate destination in the animal economy' by Robert McDonnell | 1863 |
| AP/46/4 | Unpublished paper, 'A contribution to the minute anatomy of the retina of amphibia and reptiles' by J W [John Whitaker] Hulke | 1864 |
| AP/46/4/1 | Unpublished manuscript, 'A contribution to the minute anatomy of the retina of amphibia and reptiles' by J W [John Whitaker] Hulke | 1865 |
| AP/64/3 | Unpublished paper, 'On the anatomy, histology and physiology of the intra-ocular muscles of mammals' by Walter H [Hamilton Hylton] Jessop | 1886 |
| RR/2/45 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Researches into the structure of the spinal chord' by Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke | 20 February 1851 |
| PT/26/3 | Paper, 'On the structure and use of the "Malpighian bodies" of the kidney, with observations on the circulation through that gland' by W [William] Bowman | [1842] |
| PT/32/14i | Extract, 'Note to be added to Signor C [Carlo] Matteucci's 7th series of electro-physiological researches' by Carlo Matteucci | [1847] |
| PT/37/7 | Paper, 'On the developement [sic] of the retina and optic nerve and of the membranous labyrinth and auditory nerve' by Henry Gray | 14 October 1849 |
| PT/38/14 | Paper, 'On the structure of the dental tissues of the order Rodentia' by John Tomes | [1850] |
| PT/39/1 | Explanation of figures, from 'On the structure of the dental tissues of the order Rodentia' by John Tomes | [1850] |
| RR/1/17 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'An experimental inquiry undertaken with the view of ascertaining whether any, and what signs of current electricity are manifested during the organic process of secretion in living animals, being an attempt to apply some of the discoveries of Faraday to physiology' by H F Baxter | [1848] |
| RR/1/139 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Supplement to a paper “On the nervous ganglia of the uterus.”' by Robert Lee | 3 June 1846 |
| RR/2/115 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'Ocular spectres and structures as mutual exponents' by James Jago | 26 May 1855 |
| RR/2/136 | Referee's report by William Bowman, on a paper 'An account of two cases, in which ovules, or their remains, were discovered in the fallopian tubes of unimpregnated women who had died during the period of menstruation' by H Letheby | 23 August 1851 |
| PT/74/7/7 | Drawings, muscle tissues from various animals by [William Bowman] | [1840] |
| PT/74/7/8 | Drawings, muscle tissues from various animals by [William Bowman] | [1840] |
| MC/15/153 | Letter from William Bowman, Joldwynds, Dorking, to Herbert Rix | 8 March 1891 |
| MC/15 | Volume 15 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society | 1889-1892 |
| MS/959 | Two medical papers by William Bowman | 1835 |
| MS/959/2 | Paper, 'On Spinal Paraplegia', by William Bowman | 14 November 1835 |
| MS/959/1 | Paper, 'On the Pathology of Fractures', by William Bowman | January 1835 |