Well, Peter, nothing too exciting to report. James bowdoin graduated from Harvard in 1745. With money from Bowdoin's bequest, Harvard established the Bowdoin Prizes in 1791 for essays in English, Latin, and Greek - so he must have died in 1791 or earlier. Apparently, he was famous (or infmaous) for being the Massachusetts Governor who quelled the Shays Rebellion.

In the summer of 1786, Massachusetts farmers began to stop foreclosures by breaking up court sessions. The Massachusetts Assembly had denied their petition for tax relief, and, under the leadership of (unpaid) war veteran Daniel Shays, the farmers took the law into their own hands. After Shays and his armed supporters marched on Worcester and threatened to shut down the Supreme Court at Springfield, Governor James Bowdoin sent out 4,400 soldiers to stop Shays and his 1,200 men. The rebellious farmers were driven back and Shays later escaped into Vermont.

On June 24, 1794, Massachusetts Governor Samuel Adams signed an act to establish Bowdoin College, which was named after James Bowdoin. Maine separated from Massachusetts and became a state in its own right in 1820.
Actually, Peter, I'm glad you brought this up. I've wondered myself. It certainly is a pretty campus, and an interesting little town. I spent a day near the campus in Brunswick a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it. Oh, and there's a great German restaurant downtown.
-Joe Offer-