Robert Bower was born 9 June 1894, the only son of the late Sir Robert Lister Bower, KBE, CMG, and Annette Norah, daughter of the late Henry Head, of Thornhill, Bray, County Wicklow [Ireland]. He was educated at Cheam School and the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne [Isle of Wight] and Dartmouth [Devon] and in 1922 married Henrietta, 4th daughter of the 1st Baron Strickland, GCMG; they had one son and seven daughters.

Bower joined the Royal Navy in 1907, and served throughout the First World War, being present at the Battle of Jutland while aboard HMS Inconstant, and then serving in submarines, between 1916 and 1918. He was then promoted to be Flag-Lieutenant to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth [Vice-Admiral Sir Stanley Colville], from 1918 to 1919, before returning to sea in HMS Iron Duke in Turkey and South Russia, 1919-1921. Bower was attached to the RAF Staff College in 1928, retiring in 1931, but returned to service at the outbreak of the Second World War, with RAF Coastal Command, and at sea escorting convoys. After his retirement in 1931, Bower became Unionist MP for Cleveland [Yorkshire], holding the seat until 1945. He also worked as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Society for Individual Freedom, between 1950 and 1953.

Bower's publications include his memoirs and occasional contributions to various reviews and the press. He died on 5 July 1975.