Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe
Encyclopedia
Henry Dawnay, 2nd Viscount Downe (7 June 1664–21 May 1741), styled The Honourable Henry Dawnay between 1681 and 1695, was an English Tory politician.
Dawnay was the son of John Dawnay, 1st Viscount Downe
, by his second wife Dorothy, daughter of William Johnson, of Wickham, Lancashire
. He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament
for Pontefract
in 1690, a seat he held until 1695. The latter year he also succeeded his father in the viscountcy. However, 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 English House of Commons
and in 1698 he was returned as one of two Knights of the Shire for Yorkshire
, a seat he held until 1701 and again between 1707 and 1727.
Lord Downe married Mildred, daughter of William Godfrey, of Thornock, Lincolnshire
, in 1685. She died in August 1725. Downe remained a widower until his death in May 1741, aged 76. He was succeeded in the viscountcy by his grandson, Henry
, his son the Honourable John Dawnay
having predeceased him.
Dawnay was the son of John Dawnay, 1st Viscount Downe
John Dawnay, 1st Viscount Downe
John Dawnay, 1st Viscount Downe , known as Sir John Dawnay between 1660 and 1681, was an English politician....
, by his second wife Dorothy, daughter of William Johnson, of Wickham, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Pontefract
Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)
Pontefract was an English parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Pontefract in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons briefly in the 13th century and again from 1621 until 1885, and one member from 1885 to 1974.-In the unreformed...
in 1690, a seat he held until 1695. The latter year he also succeeded his father in the viscountcy. 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....
(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 English 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 1698 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 1701 and again between 1707 and 1727.
Lord Downe married Mildred, daughter of William Godfrey, of Thornock, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, in 1685. She died in August 1725. Downe remained a widower until his death in May 1741, aged 76. He was succeeded in the viscountcy by his grandson, Henry
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...
, his son 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...
having predeceased him.