LRCP LM Edin 1868, LFPS Glas 1868; FFPS Glas 1872; FRCS Edin 1876; MD St And 1886.
Scowcroft gained his medical education at Liverpool and at Manchester Royal School of Medicine, where he was also prosector of anatomy. Scowcroft settled in general practice in Bolton, where he was honorary surgeon to Bolton Infirmary. Scowcroft was a member of Manchester Medical Society and Manchester Pathological Society. He later became mayor of Bolton.