Derek Bowett
Encyclopedia
Professor Sir Derek William Bowett (20 April 1927-23 May 2009) was an international lawyer, appointed Whewell Professor of International Law in 1981 and was President of Queens' College, Cambridge
1970 - 1982. Bowett was awarded a CBE
1983 and was Knighted in 1998.
Raised near Manchester Bowett was a chorister at Manchester Cathedral
, attended William Hulme's Grammar School
and joined the Royal Navy
at 18 years of age in 1945. After demobilisation he studied law at Downing College, Cambridge
. After gaining a first class degree Bowett was encouraged to continue his studies by Hersch Lauterpacht
the then Whewell Professor of International Law.
He was highly esteemed as a lawyer: J. P. Gardner (Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law) wrote in the Introduction to Bowett’s book International Court of Justice (1997), that his “….experience of international litigation is unrivalled…”
In 2007 he recorded a series of interviews for the Cambridge law faculty recalling his career, which are published on its website. The transcript, with its unaffected identification not only of those he respected as inspirations, but also those he regarded as lazy, poor lawyers or fools, preserves an authentic echo of the Bowett voice, immediately recognisable by those who knew him.
Sir Derek’s association with Queens’ College was long and eventful, and documented in a series of six amusing and elegantly written articles in the “Queens’ College Record” (2004[2], 2005[3], 2006[4], 2007-9[5]).
to advise it on its territorial disputes with Ethiopia and Kenya. This was his first international law brief. On arrival in Mogadishu
he was asked to draft a diplomatic note closing the British Embassy, on the basis that Britain was refusing to give effect to a plebiscite in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, which had voted by a large majority to reunite with Somalia. Lacking experience in rupturing diplomatic relations, he asked to see the standard work, Satow’s Guide to Diplomatic Practice. But the Somali Foreign Ministry had no books of any kind, and he was told to borrow it from the British Embassy. The book was duly returned, with a note of thanks and another, more formal, note giving the Ambassador four days to leave. It seems to have been a case of persona non grata sed liber gratus.
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
1970 - 1982. Bowett was awarded a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
1983 and was Knighted in 1998.
Raised near Manchester Bowett was a chorister at Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral is a medieval church on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. The cathedral's official name is The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester...
, attended William Hulme's Grammar School
William Hulme's Grammar School
William Hulme's Grammar School is an Academy in Whalley Range, Manchester, England.-History:WHGS was founded on 26 January 1887 as a grammar school. It ceased to be a direct grant school when the Labour government abolished the scheme, and was therefore forced to become private...
and joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at 18 years of age in 1945. After demobilisation he studied law at Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
. After gaining a first class degree Bowett was encouraged to continue his studies by Hersch Lauterpacht
Hersch Lauterpacht
Sir Hersch Lauterpacht was a member of the United Nations' International Law Commission from 1952 to 1954 and a Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1955 to 1960. In the words of former ICJ President Stephen M...
the then Whewell Professor of International Law.
He was highly esteemed as a lawyer: J. P. Gardner (Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law) wrote in the Introduction to Bowett’s book International Court of Justice (1997), that his “….experience of international litigation is unrivalled…”
In 2007 he recorded a series of interviews for the Cambridge law faculty recalling his career, which are published on its website. The transcript, with its unaffected identification not only of those he respected as inspirations, but also those he regarded as lazy, poor lawyers or fools, preserves an authentic echo of the Bowett voice, immediately recognisable by those who knew him.
Sir Derek’s association with Queens’ College was long and eventful, and documented in a series of six amusing and elegantly written articles in the “Queens’ College Record” (2004[2], 2005[3], 2006[4], 2007-9[5]).
Work in Beirut: the only time Israel has appeared before an international tribunal.
He spent 1966-1968 in Beirut as Legal Adviser to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). There he experienced, from a distance, the Six Day War and, much more directly, its effects in terms of the great increase in the number of refugees falling under UNRWA’s remit. It coloured his attitude to the Middle East conflict thereafter: his rooms at Queens had on the walls photos of some of those refugees. In later years he successfully represented Egypt against Israel in a significant territorial dispute, the only time Israel has appeared before an international tribunal.Work in Somalia
In 1964 while a Fellow of Queens' he was asked by the newly-independent Government of SomaliaSomalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
to advise it on its territorial disputes with Ethiopia and Kenya. This was his first international law brief. On arrival in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
he was asked to draft a diplomatic note closing the British Embassy, on the basis that Britain was refusing to give effect to a plebiscite in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, which had voted by a large majority to reunite with Somalia. Lacking experience in rupturing diplomatic relations, he asked to see the standard work, Satow’s Guide to Diplomatic Practice. But the Somali Foreign Ministry had no books of any kind, and he was told to borrow it from the British Embassy. The book was duly returned, with a note of thanks and another, more formal, note giving the Ambassador four days to leave. It seems to have been a case of persona non grata sed liber gratus.