William Bowles (1686-1748)

William Bowles (11 February 1686 – 14 May 1748) was an English Member of Parliament for more than 20 years.

He was born the eldest son of Phineas Bowles of St. Michael’s, Crooked Lane, London. His brother was Phineas Bowles, who became a Lieutenant-General in the British Army.

When his father died in 1718 he became the proprietor of the Vauxhall glassworks in London, the major glass works in the country. He was also a Director of the South Sea Company from 1724 to 1739 and Recorder of Bewdley from 1738 to 1745.

In 1720 he bought the Burford Estate in Shropshire, where he built Burford House in 1728. He was elected MP for Bridport for 1727 to 1741 and afterwards (1741 to 1748) for Bewdley in nearby Worcestershire.

He died in 1748. He had married Sarah, the widow of William Cook, but left no children.

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