 His brother David died in England on 11 November 1881 aged 55, leaving George as the senior partner.Fowler was elected, with John Cox Bray, to the seat of East Adelaide in the South Australian House of Assembly on 2 April 1878, and was re-elected in April 1881 but resigned on 7 June 1881, the day he was sworn in, and was succeeded by Thomas Johnson.He served as treasurer from 10 March 1881 to 10 May 1881 in William Morgan's ministry.