Peter Cowan was a Western Australian writer, noted especially for his short stories.
Background
Born in 1914 in South Perth, Peter Walkinshaw Cowan was the son of Norman Walkinshaw Cowan and Marie Emily Johnston. He was descended from several Western Australian pioneering families, including the Browns of York, the Cowans and the Wittenooms.
Career
After leaving Wesley College, Perth in 1930, Cowan worked in insurance and as a farm labourer before completing his matriculation at Perth Technical College and subsequently entering the University of Western Australia in 1938. After completing his teaching qualifications, he worked as a teacher at Wesley College. The family moved to Melbourne in 1943 while Cowan was serving in the Royal Australian Air Force. While in Melbourne, he became involved in the Angry Penguins modernist literary movement.
After the war, Peter Cowan returned to Perth and taught English and Geography for many years at Scotch College.
In 1964, he became a Senior Tutor in English at the University of Western Australia, and later an Honorary Research Fellow after his retirement.