Background
Bowtell was born in the parish of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, in 1753, became a bookbinder and stationer there.
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John Bowtell
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He was also an enthusiastic bell-ringer, and in 1788, at Great Saint Mary"s, Cambridge, he rang on the 30-cwt. tenor bell as many as 6,609 harmonious changes "in the method of bob maximus, generally termed "twelve-in.""
Bowtell had no family, and dying on 1 December 1813, aged 60, he made the following important bequests for the benefit of Cambridge: £7,000. to enlarge Addenbrooke"s Hospital. £1,000. to repair Holy Trinity. £500. to repair Saint Michael"son
£500. to apprentice boys belonging to Hobson"s workhouse.
And his "History of the Town" and other manuscripts, his books, his fossils, and curiosities, to Downing College. He was buried at Saint Michael"s, where the Addenbrooke"s Hospital governors erected a tablet to his memory.
The governors also placed a portrait of him in their court-room.
Membership
He compiled a history of the town to include the University and Barnwell Priory, keeping it by him unprinted. Collected fossils, manuscripts, and other curiosities. And was a member of the London College Youths.
