William Lisle Bowles, an English poet and clergyman, born at King's Sutton, Sept. 24, 1762, died in Salisbury, April 7, 1850. After attending Westminster school he entered Trinity college, Oxford, where he graduated in 1787. Disappointed in the expectation of a living, and much depressed by the death of a lady to whom he was engaged to be married, he made, soon after leaving the university, an extended journey in Great Britain, during which he composed the "Fourteen Sonnets" forming his first published work, which were much admired. They were followed by several less important writings, and in 1804 by his "Spirit of Discovery," a poem in six books. In 1807 he published an edition of Pope's works in 10 volumes. From this time new works appeared in rapid succession, and comprised a great number of poems, of which the "Missionary of the Andes," published in 1815, acquired the greatest fame. He continued a prolific writer of verse and prose till 1837, when he seems to have retired from literary life. In the mean time he had received important preferment in the church, having been made rector of several parishes, in 1818 chaplain to the prince regent, and in 1828 canon of Salisbury cathedral. He was a man of eccentric habits, very absent-minded, and singularly timid.

Bowles's edition of Pope, containing an essay with some severe comments on the poet, gave rise to a discussion which has become historical as "the Pope and Bowles controversy." In it Byron was his principal opponent, but Campbell, Gilchrist, and others were warmly engaged in it. Bowles defended his opinions with great ability.