John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe
Encyclopedia
John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe (9 April 1728 – 21 December 1780), was a British peer and Whig politician.
, eldest son of Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe
. His mother was Charlotte Louisa, daughter of Robert Pleydell, while Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe
, was his elder brother.
in 1754. In 1760 he succeeded in the viscountcy after the death of his elder brother in the Seven Years' War
. However, as this was an Irish peerage
it did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of Lords
and consequently did not prevent him from remaining a member of the House of Commons
. In 1768 he was returned for Malton
, a seat he held until 1774.
Lord Downe died in December 1780, aged 62, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John
. The Viscountess Downe died in April 1812.
Background
Dawnay was the younger son of the Honourable John DawnayJohn 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...
, eldest 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, while Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe
Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pleydell Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe FRS , 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...
, was his elder brother.
Political career
Dawnay was returned to Parliament for CirencesterCirencester (UK Parliament constituency)
Cirencester was a parliamentary constituency in Gloucestershire. From 1571 until 1885, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and one member between 1868 and 1885...
in 1754. In 1760 he succeeded in the viscountcy after the death of his elder brother 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...
. However, 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....
and consequently did not prevent him from remaining a member of 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...
. In 1768 he was returned for Malton
Malton (UK Parliament constituency)
Malton, also called New Malton, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295 and 1298, and again from 1640, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
, a seat he held until 1774.
Family
Lord Downe married Laura, daughter of William Burton, in 1763. They had at least seven children:- John Dawnay, 5th Viscount DowneJohn Dawnay, 5th Viscount DowneJohn Christopher Burton Dawnay, 5th Viscount Downe , styled The Honourable John Dawnay until 1780, was a British Whig politician....
(1764–1832) - William Henry Pleydell Dawnay, died young
- Hon. Catherine Dawnay (23 August 1768 – 9 July 1821)
- William Dawnay, 6th Viscount DowneWilliam Dawnay, 6th Viscount DowneWilliam Henry Dawnay, 6th Viscount Downe , styled The Honourable William Henry Dawnay until 1832, was an English clergyman and Irish peer....
(1772–1846) - Hon. Lora Dawnay (b. 17 June 1774), died young
- Hon. Marmaduke Dawnay (26 July 1777 – 1 October 1851), later (1824) Marmaduke Langley
- Hon. Rev. Thomas Dawnay (30 May 1779 – 1 January 1850), rector of Ashwell
Lord Downe died in December 1780, aged 62, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John
John Dawnay, 5th Viscount Downe
John Christopher Burton Dawnay, 5th Viscount Downe , styled The Honourable John Dawnay until 1780, was a British Whig politician....
. The Viscountess Downe died in April 1812.