Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bowen, John (1756-1832)
BOWEN, JOHN (1756–1832), painter and genealogist, was the eldest son of James Bowen, painter and topographer, of Shrewsbury [q. v.], and was born in that city in 1756. Bowen studied the local antiquities under his father; traced out the pedigrees of Shropshire families, and became especially skilful in deciphering and copying ancient manuscripts. In 1795 he sent a drawing of the Droitwich town seal to the 'Gentleman's Magazine' (vol. lxv. pt. i. p. 13), signing himself 'Antiquarius;' and in 1802 (vol. lxxii. pt. i. p. 210) he followed this up with another communication, to which he put his initials. He drew four views of Shrewsbury, which were engraved by Vandergucht (Gough, Topography, ii. 177), and in the 'Philosophical Transactions' (xlix. 196) is a plate of some Roman inscriptions from his hand. He died on 19 June 1832, aged 76.
[Gent. Mag. vol. cii. pt. ii. p. 185; Gough's Topography, ii. 177; Leighton's Guide through Shrewsbury, p. 182.]