William Cowie was the son of Alexander Cowie and Elizabeth Garden and studied at Eton College, an independent boarding school for boys in the town of Eton, in 1855 where he received his BA.
Cowie was born in London, to Alexander Cowie and his wife Elizabeth Garden, daughter of Alexander Garden. Educated at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he received his BA in 1855 and MA in 1865. Eton College (/itn/) is a 1318 independent boarding school for boys in the town of Eton, near Windsor in Berkshire, England. 
