The youngest son of James and Jane Fowler, born in Sutton, Sussex
1871 and 1881 he lived with his parents and siblings (Elizabeth and James H) in Sutton, Sussex. His father was working as a shepherd, and by 1881 he and his brother were both working as Shepherd Boys.
16th March 1888 he joined the Royal Navy, but had previously been working as a labourer.
By the 1891 census he was still living with his parents in Upper Standean, Sussex. He is listed as a RN stoker on the HMS Royal Mary. 27 March 1897 he married Harriet Searle in Preston St Saviour, Sussex (Harriet was born in Newtown). 1st April 1899 he re-enlisted.
He doesn't seem to appear on the 1901 census, but Harriet was living with the children in Portsmouth. By 1911 he and Harriet were living in Portsmouth with their three children: Elise Jane (1899), Ethel Emily (1900), Frederick James (1903). He is listed as a Stoker, unemployed, on a Naval Pension.
He died in 1918 during WWI on board HMS Vernon.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry Lists "husband of Harriett Fowler, of West Street, Soberton"

His enlistment documents record him as being 5'6" with brown hair and grey eyes