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Maxwell Bowman
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Physician, civil servant.
Born at Miami on 15 February 1896, son of ? Bowman and Ellen Marsh, he graduated from the Manitoba Medical College in 1920. He had general practices at Sperling (1920-1928) and Clanwilliam (1928-1935). He then went to the University of Toronto and received a diploma in public health.
In 1939, he joined the Manitoba Department of Health and Public Welfare as an epidemiologist. He was also a Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Manitoba (1942-1952). He was a leading figure in the fight against polio during the epidemic of 1953 and was instrumental in making the Salk vaccine available to children around Manitoba. At the time of his death, he was Director of Preventive Medical Services. He was a founder of the Canadian College of Public Health.
On 21 June 1921, he married Marjorie Ross Forrester (1897-1986, daughter of David Forrester) at Winnipeg and they subsequently had identical twin sons, John Maxwell “Jack” Bowman and William David “Bill” Bowman, along with two other sons and a daughter. The family lived at 137 Ethelbert Street. He was a member of the Masons (Ionic Lodge 25).
He died suddenly at his office in the Legislative Building on 26 April 1956 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.
Birth registrations [Maxwell Bowman, Marjorie Ross Forrester], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Maxwell Bowman, Marjorie Ross Forrester], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Dr. Maxwell Bowman, polio fighter, dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 April 1956, page 7.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 8 August 2026
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