Edith Brown was born on a station in Western Australia.  Her mother died when Cowan was seven and she was sent to boarding school.  Her father was hanged for killing his second wife by the time Cowan was fifteen.  At seventeen she married the Master of the Supreme Court and moved to Perth.

Cowan got involved in the rights of women and children, participating in many clubs and organizations.  In fact, she helped start many of them.  She fought for the right to vote for women and for the care of children.  She established the Children’s Protection Society which won the right of children to be tried as minors - not adults.

In 1920 women were granted the ability to run for parliament.  Cowan won the election and continued her fight for the rights of women and children.  She championed equal rights for mothers and promoted sex education programs in schools.  She also fought for the right to education and raised money to allow students to attend university.  Correspondingly, a university was named after her.  She now appears on the $50 note in Australia.