3-077-940 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Sir Edward Cowan, of Belfast, 1890. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Chancellor. 'The death of Sir Edward Porter Cowan, on March 24, leaves a blank in the social life of Belfast and the North of Ireland. He was born in 1842,...and was educated at the Royal Academical Institution, where he was a distinguished scholar. Early initiated into commercial pursuits, he became one of the most successful men of business in the North of Ireland. He was at the head of several prosperous and important commercial undertakings. He was chairman of the Ulster Banking Company and of the Irish Shipowners' Company, a director of the Great Northern Railway of Ireland and of a steamship company...He first took an active part in politics twenty-two years ago...Several years a member of the Belfast Town Council, Sir Edward Cowan was twice Mayor...On the death of Lord Waveney he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the county of Antrim. He was also a magistrate and deputy lieutenant of the county of Down. Up to the time of Mr. Gladstone's sudden conversion to Irish Nationalism, Sir Edward Cowan was one of his most steadfast supporters. After that remarkable change he became a Liberal Unionist, and might be considered the head of this party in Ulster'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.