Derek Bowett

Who was Derek Bowett?

Sir Derek William Bowett 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.

His PhD was on “Self Defence in International Law”.

He was highly esteemed as a lawyer: J. P. Gardner wrote in the Introduction to Bowett’s book International Court of Justice, 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.