Sir Robert Fowler, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Fowler as caricatured by Théobald Chartran in Vanity Fair, June 1881
Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler, 1st Baronet (born September 12, 1828, in Tottenham, London – died May 22, 1891, in London) was an important British politician. He served as a Member of Parliament and held the prestigious role of Lord Mayor of London multiple times. He was also a successful banker.
Contents
Who Was Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler?
Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler was a well-known figure in British politics during the Victorian era. He was a DL and a JP, which are important roles in local government. He was also a respected banker.
Early Life and Education
Robert Nicholas Fowler was born in Tottenham, which is in Middlesex (now part of London). His father was Thomas Fowler, from a place called Gastard in Wiltshire. Robert went to Grove House School in Tottenham. Later, he studied at London University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1848.
His Career in Politics
Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler had a long and active career in politics.
- He was a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for two different areas.
- From 1868 to 1874, he represented the Penryn and Falmouth Constituency.
- From 1880 to 1891, he was the MP for the City of London Constituency.
- In 1880, he was chosen as the Sheriff of the City of London.
- He became the Lord Mayor of London in 1883 and again in 1885. He was the last Lord Mayor to serve more than one term until Sir William Russell in 2019.
A Special Honor and a Book
In 1885, Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler was given a special honor: he was made a baronet. This means he received the title "Sir" and his family could inherit it. He also wrote a book about his travels, called A visit to Japan, China and India.
Interesting Facts About His Time as an MP
A Member of Parliament named George Shaw-Lefevre once pointed out something interesting about Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler. At that time, some property owners could vote in more than one area. This was called "plural voting." Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler had many properties, which meant he had thirteen votes in different areas! During one election, he managed to use all thirteen of his votes in a single day, showing how dedicated he was. In 1890, he was described as a JP and DL for Middlesex and Wiltshire, and an Alderman of London.
Family Life
On October 27, 1852, Robert Nicholas Fowler married Sarah Charlotte Fox. She was born on March 15, 1834, and was the daughter of Sarah and Alfred Fox from Falmouth.
They had a large family with ten daughters and one son:
- Their son, Sir Thomas Fowler Bt., was born in London on August 12, 1868. Sadly, he was killed in action on April 20, 1902, in South Africa during the Second Boer War. He was 33 years old.
- One of their daughters, Helen Ann Fowler, married Sir Alfred Pease, 2nd Baronet.
- Another daughter, Caroline Fowler, married Rev. John Stephen Flynn.
