The Bowler hat was first crafted for British gamekeepers in 1849, by Thomas and William Bowler, to meet a request from the hat makers James Lock & Co.
This request came from a patron looking for durable, snug-fitting hat with a low crown, capable of staying on the head while riding, and shielding gamekeepers from low branches while moving at speed.
As Wikipedia notes:
The bowler, not the cowboy hat or sombrero, was the most popular hat in the American West, prompting Lucius Beebe to call it "the hat that won the West". Both cowboys and railroad workers preferred the hat because it would not blow off easily in strong wind while riding a horse, or when sticking one's head out the window of a speeding train. It was worn by both lawmen and outlaws, including Bat Masterson, Butch Cassidy, Black Bart, and Billy the Kid.
Pictured is the real Butch Cassidy (top) with bowler, and the movie versions of Butch and Sundance with “proper topper”.
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