Laurence George Bowman (16 March 1866 – 21 November 1950), was a British Liberal Party politician and headmaster.

He was born in Poland when it was part of Tsarist Russia, and brought to England in 1870.^[1] He was educated at the Jews Free School^[2] and University College, London^[3] where he obtained BA (Hons in Mental and Moral Science), MA (Philosophy, etc.) and BSc; Teachers’ Diploma (University of London). He married, in 1893, Fanny Cohen. She died in 1942. They had one son who was killed in 1917 and one daughter, Ruth.^[4]

He was Assistant Master at Jews Free School, 1880–98, Vice-Master, 1898–1907 and Headmaster, 1908–30^[5] after which he retired.^[6] He was Chairman of the Education Committee of the Jewish Religious Education Board. Representative on the Appeal Tribunal of Unemployment Assistance Board. Vice-Chairman of Central School Employment Committee. He was a Member of various educational and political bodies. He was a Lecturer and Speaker on Educational and Political Subjects.^[7]

He was a supporter of free trade, land value taxation,^[8] co-partnership in industry with profit sharing.^[9] He was a member of the Executive Committee of the London Liberal Federation.^[10] He was Liberal candidate for the St Pancras South East Division at the 1935 General Election.^[11] The constituency was not a good prospect for the Liberal Party as they came a poor third the last time they stood a candidate in 1929.

He was re-adopted by local Liberal Association and continued as prospective parliamentary candidate until the outbreak of war^[13] By the time of the next General Election in 1945, he had been replaced as candidate and did not stand for parliament again.^[14] He was President of South Hendon Division Liberal Association.^[15]

His daughter, born in 1894 as Ruth Bowman, in 1914 married Sidney Abrahams, who was later knighted.^[16] They had two children, Valerie and Anthony.^[17]

As Lady Abrahams, she was also politically active in the Liberal Party. She stood for parliament on three occasions; Orpington in 1950, Nottingham East in 1951 and Wembley North in 1955.^[18]