Edgar Rennie Bowring

Sir Edgar Rennie Bowring (August 17, 1858 – June 23, 1943) was a Newfoundland businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He served on the Legislative Council of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1908, and he was both the first and last High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922 and again from 1932 to 1934. Bowring is most well-known as the namesake of Bowring Park, which he bestowed to the city of St. John's in 1914.

Business career and politics

Bowring was born in St. John's, Newfoundland as the son of John Bowring and Mary Broom (née Rennie). After graduating from Bishop Feild College, he worked at the family business, becoming the director of Bowring Brothers after the death of his cousin Charles R. Bowring in 1890. Bowring had married Flora Munn (née Clift) in 1888. They had no children together, but he raised her step-son John Shannon Munn.

Bowring was appointed to the Legislative Council of Newfoundland in 1898 by Premier James S. Winter, where he served for ten years. He was knighted in 1915. In 1918, Bowring served as Newfoundland's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He was also the Dominion's last commissioner before the legislature abolished self-government in 1934.