Nigel Hubert Bowen was born at Summerland in British Columbia and educated at The King's School, Parramatta and St Paul's College, University of Sydney. He was admitted to the NSW Bar in 1936 and practised as a constitutional and company lawyer. 

During the Second World War, Bowen first enlisted in the Australian Military Forces (CMF) in May 1941, but transferred to the 2nd AIF in August 1942 and served overseas in the South West Pacific Area (1944-46). In March 1946 he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Captain. 

Prior to entering Federal Parliament, Bowen was Editor of the Australian Law Journal (1946-58), lectured in company law and taxation at the University of Sydney (1957-58) and was Vice-President of the Law Council of Australia (1957-60) and President of the NSW Bar Council (1959-61). He became a Queen's Counsel in 1953 and was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1954.

Bowen was elected to the House of Representatives in June 1964, at a by-election for the seat of Parramatta held following the resignation of Sir Garfield Barwick. He was re-elected at the general elections of 1966, 1969 and 1972, although at the latter he held the seat by one of the narrowest margins in the country.
 
During his Parliamentary career, Bowen was Attorney General (1966-69 and again in 1971), Minister for Education and Science (1969-71) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1971-72). He was also Chairman of the Commonwealth Practitioners Board (1967-69); served on Joint Parliamentary Committees relating to Foreign Affairs (1966) and Foreign Affairs and Defence (1973); and was leader of the Australian delegation to the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (1971-72). Following the defeat of the McMahon Liberal Coalition Government in the December 1972 general election, Bowen contested the Liberal Party leadership but lost by one vote to B M Snedden. Instead, he became a member of the Party's Executive and Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs and external territories. 

In July 1973, Bowen announced his retirement from politics and resigned from Federal Parliament. He resumed his legal career, initially as a Judge of the NSW Court of Appeal (1973-74), then Chief Judge in Equity, NSW Supreme Court (1974-76) and was the first Chief Justice of the Federal Court (1977-90).

Sir Nigel Bowen was made a Knight Commander in the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1976 and a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) in 1988. He died in 1994.

Sources:

Commonwealth Parliamentary Handbook 1965, p 39; 1973, pp 37-38; 1975, p 278
Who's Who in Australia 1992, pp 198-199
 

Agency associated with person unregistered

1968-1968: Australian Delegation to UN Conference on Human Rights,
           Teheran, Iran - Leader;  Vice-President of Conference
1970-1970: Australian Delegation to UNESCO Conference on Cultural
           Policies, Venice, Italy - Leader
1971-1971: Australian Delegation to British Commonwealth Conference
           on Education, Canberra - Chairman of Conference
1971-1971: Australian Delegation to 26th Session of UN General
           Assembly - Leader