Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pleydell Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe FRS
(8 April 1727–9 December 1760), was a British soldier and politician.
Dawnay was the eldest son of the Honourable John Dawnay
, son of Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe
. His mother was Charlotte Louisa, daughter of Robert Pleydell, of Ampney Crucis
, Gloucestershire
. He succeeded his grandfather in the viscountcy in May 1741, aged 14. As this was an Irish peerage
it did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of Lords
(although it did entitle him to a seat in the Irish House of Lords
). He was consequently eligible for election to the House of Commons
and in 1750 he was returned as one of two Knights of the Shire for Yorkshire
, a seat he held until his death ten years later. Lord Downe also served in the Seven Years' War
as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 25th Foot
. He fought in the Battle of Minden
in 1759 and commanded the regiment in the Battle of Campen in October 1760. He died in December 1760 from wounds received during the latter battle, aged 33.
Lord Downe never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, John
.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(8 April 1727–9 December 1760), was a British soldier and politician.
Dawnay was the eldest son of the Honourable John Dawnay
John Dawnay (MP)
The Honourable John Dawnay , was a British Member of Parliament.Dawnay was the son of Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe, by Mildred, daughter of William Godfrey, of Thornock, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford...
, son of Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe
Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe
Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe , styled The Honourable Henry Dawnay between 1681 and 1695, was an English Tory politician....
. His mother was Charlotte Louisa, daughter of Robert Pleydell, of Ampney Crucis
Ampney Crucis
Ampney Crucis is a village and civil parish in the Cotswolds, part of the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. The parish has a population of 609. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was held by Turstin FitzRolf....
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. He succeeded his grandfather in the viscountcy in May 1741, aged 14. As this was an Irish peerage
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
it did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
(although it did entitle him to a seat in the Irish House of Lords
Irish House of Lords
The Irish House of Lords was the upper house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from mediaeval times until 1800. It was abolished along with the Irish House of Commons by the Act of Union.-Function:...
). He was consequently eligible for election to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
and in 1750 he was returned as one of two Knights of the Shire for Yorkshire
Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Yorkshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, a seat he held until his death ten years later. Lord Downe also served in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 25th Foot
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
. He fought in the Battle of Minden
Battle of Minden
The Battle of Minden—or Thonhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France Louis, Marquis de Contades...
in 1759 and commanded the regiment in the Battle of Campen in October 1760. He died in December 1760 from wounds received during the latter battle, aged 33.
Lord Downe never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, John
John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe
John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe , was a British peer and Whig politician.-Background:Dawnay was the younger son of the Honourable John Dawnay, eldest son of Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe...
.