William Brownlow (1726–1794)

William Brownlow PC (I) (10 April 1726 – 28 October 1794)[1] of Lurgan, Co. Armagh was an Anglo-Irish politician.

William Brownlow
Member of the Ireland Parliament
for County Armagh
In office
1753–1794
Member of the Ireland Parliament
for Strabane
In office
1768–1769
Personal details
Born10 April 1726
Died28 October 1794
Spouses
  • Judith Meredyth
  • Catherine Hall
Parents

He was the only son of William Brownlow MP and Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn[1] and Elizabeth Reading.

Brownlow served as High Sheriff of Armagh for 1750 and was first elected to the Irish House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for County Armagh in 1753, styled The Right Honourable and holding the seat until his death.[1] He was also returned for the Strabane constituency in 1768, but was replaced in 1769.[2] He was an officer of the Irish Volunteers and one of the founding subscribers of the Bank of Ireland in 1783.[1] He was generally seen as a reformer, although there were allegations that he misused public funds to improve his demesne.[1]

He married firstly Judith Letitia Meredyth, daughter of the Reverend Charles Meredyth, Dean of Ardfert, and had at least two sons: his heir William, and Charles. He married secondly Catherine Hall, daughter of Roger Hall of Mount Hall, County Down, by whom he had at least six further children; including Elizabeth, who married John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley, and the Rev. Francis Brownlow, who married Catherine, daughter of Anthony Brabazon, 8th Earl of Meath.[lower-alpha 1]

William, his eldest son and heir, also became an MP for County Armagh and founded the bank of William Brownlow Esq.,& Co. Charles became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 57th Foot and succeeded his childless brother in 1815.[4][5] Charles's son, also named Charles, became 1st Baron Lurgan.

Notes
  1. Sources vary as to the number of children Brownlow had. The Dictionary of Irish Biography[1] suggests a total of nine: two sons by Judith, and two sons and five daughters by Catherine. Conversely, Linkin[3] indicates that he had three sons and one daughter by Judith, and at least two sons and four daughters (and possibly four additional children) by Catherine.

References
  1. Linde Lunney. "Brownlow, William". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. E. M. Johnston-Liik, MPs in Dublin: Companion to History of the Irish Parliament, 1692-1800 (Ulster Historical Foundation, 2006), p.74 (Retrieved 26 February 2016).
  3. Harriet Kramer Linkin, ed. (2020). The Collected Letters of Mary Blachford Tighe. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 438.
  4. James Quinn. "Brownlow, William". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. Charles Lethbridge Kingsford (1916). The Story of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Country Life. p. 24.
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