Edward Fowler 1632-1714

Edward FOWLER 1632-1714

Edward Fowler's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection *596)

Biographical Note

Born at Westerleigh, Gloucestershire, third son of Richard Fowler, priest (but later a nonconformist). BA Corpus Christi College, Oxford 1653, MA Trinity College, Cambridge 1656. Chaplain to the dowager Countess of Kent, curate of Northill, Bedfordshire 1656. His writings against nonconformity during the 1660s brought the patronage of Gilbert Sheldon and he became vicar of All Hallows, Bread Street, London in 1673. Vicar of St Giles, Cripplegate 1681, Bishop of Gloucester 1691.

Books

Fowler used an engraved armorial bookplate dated 1703 (Franks *596). In his will, be bequeathed his study of books to his son Richard, but we do not know the extent of his library.

Sources

• Will of Edward Fowler, The National Archives PROB 11/542/229.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
• Spurr, John. '"Fowler, Edward (1631/2–1714), bishop of Gloucester."' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.