John Bowring books in order
4th Governor of Hong Kong; hymnwriter; translator
- Lived
- 1792–1872
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 4
John Bowring published 2 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book, beginning with Specimens of the Russian Poets (1821). The best-known is Matins and Vespers (1824).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Bowring
Start here
Matins and Vespers
John Bowring's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Kingdom and People of Siam (1857)
Poetry in order
Specimens of the Russian Poets (1821)
Other books in order
Matins and Vespers (1824)
Free to read
All free classics
About John Bowring
Sir John Bowring, or Phrayā Siam Mānukūlakicca Siammitra Mahāyaśa was a British political economist, traveller, writer, literary translator, polyglot and the fourth Governor of Hong Kong. He was appointed by Queen Victoria as emissary to Siam, later he was appointed by King Mongkut of Siam as ambassador to London, also making a treaty of amity with Siam on 18 April 1855, now referred to as the "Bowring Treaty". His namesake treaty was fully effective for 70 years, until the reign of Vajiravudh. This treaty was gradually edited and became completely ineffective in 1938 under the government of Plaek Phibunsongkhram. Later, he was sent as a commissioner of Britain to the newly created Kingdom of Italy in 1861. He died in Claremont in Devon on 23 November 1872.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Bowring FAQ
- How many books has John Bowring written?
- John Bowring published 2 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Bowring's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Matins and Vespers.
- What is John Bowring's last book?
- A Visit to the Philippine Islands (1859).
- What is John Bowring's most famous book?
- Matins and Vespers (1824) is John Bowring's most widely read book.
- Can I read John Bowring's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by John Bowring are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Bowring
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.