James Lord Bowes British broker, author, collector, art patron and expert on Japan and its art Date of Birth: 21.06.1834 Country: Great Britain

James Lord Bowes: A Biography

James Lord Bowes, a British broker, author, collector, art patron, and specialist in Japan and its art, is known for his significant contributions to Liverpool in the 19th century, particularly in introducing Japanese culture to the British city. Bowes became the first Japanese consul of foreign origin in the United Kingdom in 1888. His former residence in the Toxteth area of Liverpool is now open to the public as the first specialized museum of Japanese art in the Western world.

James Lord Bowes was born in Horsforth, Leeds, UK, and was the youngest of six surviving children of John Bowes, a wool reseller, and Elizabeth Lord Bowes. The family moved to Liverpool between 1840 and 1845 after the death of John Bowes. In his youth, James studied at the Liverpool College, located near his home in the Islington area. After completing his studies, Bowes spent nearly seven years in the mercantile business, gaining valuable experience in the science of proper sales and merchandising. He excelled in the sale of cotton in Liverpool. When Bowes turned 22, he began collaborating with his brother John, who had recently opened a bank account and ventured into the textile trading market, buying and selling wool. The fraternal business flourished, and in January 1859, James became a full partner in the firm 'John L. Bowes & Brother, Wool Brokers.' That same year, the company relocated to the newly constructed 'Queens Insurance Building' on Dale Street.

The Bowes family moved to Canning Street, an area with a market catering mainly to affluent intellectuals. In 1859, James embarked on a trip to America in search of new business opportunities. This was the first of many overseas journeys undertaken by Bowes in the following decades. In 1867, James moved to Streetlam Cottage, located on the grounds adjacent to Strawberry Field on Bicknacre Road, a semi-rural affluent suburb of Walton, six miles south of central Liverpool. In 1871, he married Charlotte Vicary Adam, the daughter of Mary Adam de Belles and William Adam, who had previously resided in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Adam family was involved in the importation of oranges and berries to London and Liverpool, with James' father-in-law overseeing the business operations in Portugal. Charlotte's brother, John Isabel Adam, also engaged in the wool trade and worked for the firm 'John L. Bowes and Brother.' James and Charlotte had six children, with the last surviving child passing away in 1967 at the age of 95. Following his own calling, Bowes immersed himself not only in Liverpool's commercial life but also developed a serious interest in art. He served as vice-president of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on several occasions and became the president of the Liverpool Art Club. In 1872, James was entrusted with overseeing the construction of the magnificent Streetlam Tower, situated south of the University of Liverpool. The architect of this historic hotel was George Ashdown Audsley, who shared Bowes' passion for Japanese art, particularly ceramics.

From around 1867, Bowes began collecting various forms of Japanese art. He organized an exhibition at the Liverpool Art Club, and together with Audsley, compiled a catalog known as the 'Descriptive Catalogue of the Bowes Collection of Japanese Lacquer.' In 1875, they also created the catalog 'Ceramic Art of Japan,' a copy of which was sent to Emperor Meiji as a gift in 1891. In return, the Emperor sent two bronze vases. In 1888, James was appointed an honorary Japanese consul in Liverpool, a distinction that had never been bestowed upon anyone from the United Kingdom before. In 1890, he built a private museum at the base of Streetlam Tower, which opened to the public. All proceeds from the museum's visitations were directed to charitable organizations selected by Bowes in the Liverpool area.

In April 1891, Bowes organized a Japanese Charity Bazaar at his museum, which was attended by around 20,000 people over six days. They managed to raise £5,290 (equivalent to approximately £580,000 in 2012) for charity. In May 1891, Bowes was awarded the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th class, and later in February 1897, he received the same order, 3rd class. James Lord Bowes passed away from a heart attack during a train journey from London to Liverpool on October 27, 1899. After his death, the Bowes Museum of Japanese Art was closed, and attempts to find a new location for his collection proved unsuccessful. The museum exhibits were sold at an eleven-day open auction in Liverpool in May 1901. His wife Charlotte passed away in Liverpool in 1923 at the age of 80.