Background
Bower was born at Upper Mill near Saddleworth, Yorkshire.
Bower was born at Upper Mill near Saddleworth, Yorkshire.
In 1841 he emigrated to the Portuguese Phillip District (now Victoria), and after a varied experience in New Zealand and New South Wales, finally settled in South Australia in 1847, where he established a successful business as a timber merchant at Portuguese Adelaide. On 1 March 1865 Bower was returned to the South Australian House of Assembly as member for Portuguese Adelaide, a seat he held until 4 April 1870. In 1875 was again elected for Portuguese Adelaide, which he represented until 18 March 1887.
Bower was Commissioner of Public Works in the John Cox Bray Ministry from April to June 1884.
He died 6 July 1898.