James F. Bowman, Date of Birth, Date of Death

    

James F. Bowman

American journalist and writer

Date of Birth: 21-Jan-1826

Date of Death: 29-Apr-1882

Profession: editor, journalist

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius


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About James F. Bowman

  • James F.
  • Bowman (January 21, 1826 – April 29, 1882) was a journalist and poet in Northern California, and a co-founder of the Bohemian Club.
  • Bowman served on several newspapers in Placerville, Sacramento and San Francisco during a 24-year career.
  • Through his contacts among San Francisco journalists, Bowman befriended Mark Twain, artist William Keith, critic Ambrose Bierce (who included an anecdote about Bowman in his The Devil's Dictionary) and a great many others.Bowman occasionally appeared in public to read his own poetry, and was mentioned in the Daily Morning Call for giving a recitation at a Fourth of July celebration in San Francisco, 1864.
  • Bowman connected in 1871 with George Frederick Parsons in Sacramento at the Record, was encouraged to write more poetry, and to publish.
  • Bowman was subsequently subject to attempted plagiarism of his work by "literary purloiners".In 1864, Bowman picked up a regular assignment as co-editor with Bret Harte of The Californian newspaper.
  • In 1865, the daily Dramatic Chronicle began publication in San Francisco as a theatre and literary review, under the direction of teenager brothers Charles and Michael de Young.
  • Charles de Young began buying witty articles from writers such as drinking buddies Twain and Bowman, including a piece written anonymously by Bowman which savaged both the grandiose style of a poetry review in The Californian and the poetry itself, a book by Twain and Bowman's mutual friend Charles Warren Stoddard.
  • The targeted review was one written by Bowman himself.
  • In 1868, The Californian closed, but by then Bowman was editing both the Dramatic Chronicle and the Oakland News.
  • In August 1868, the name Dramatic Chronicle was shortened to Chronicle, and the newspaper given wider latitude in subject matter.The Overland Monthly began publication in 1868, and Bowman submitted poetry.
  • In 1872, he helped form the Bohemian Club.
  • He served as the club's secretary 1876–1878.Bowman died in 1882, and Ambrose Bierce wrote a moving elegy which was published in the San Francisco Wasp on May 5:

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