born April 5, 1901, Springfield, Mass., U.S.
died May 25, 1986, Sussex, Conn.
U.S. advertising executive and diplomat.
A graduate of Yale University, he and William Benton established the Benton and Bowles advertising company (1929), which became one of the largest in the world. After selling his interest in 1941, Bowles served as director of the Federal Price Administration (194346). Elected governor of Connecticut in 1948, he was defeated in 1950 because of his liberal stand on civil rights. He was ambassador to India (195153), served in the U.S. House of Representatives (195361), and returned to India as ambassador (196369).