William Dowdeswell (Chancellor)
| The Right Honourable William Dowdeswell | |
|---|---|
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | |
|
In office 16 July 1765 – 2 August 1766 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | The Marquess of Rockingham |
| Preceded by | Hon. George Grenville |
| Succeeded by | Hon. Charles Townshend |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1721 |
| Died |
6 February 1775 (aged 53–54) Nice, France |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse(s) | Bridget Codrington |
| Alma mater |
Christ Church, Oxford University of Leiden |
| Signature |
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William Dowdeswell PC (12. March 1721 – 6 February 1775)[1] was a British politician. He went abroad to recover his health in 1774 but died the next February in Nice.[2]
Background and education
A son of William Dowdeswell of Pull Court, Bushley, Worcestershire, he was educated at Westminster School, at Christ Church, Oxford, then at the University of Leiden.[3] One of his fellow students was Baron d'Holbach. He spent the summer of 1746 with him at the uncle´s Messire François-Adam, Baron d’Holbach, Seigneur de Heeze, Leende et autres Lieux (ca. 1675–1753) estate Heeze-Leende.[4]
Political career
Dowdeswell became member of Parliament for the family borough of Tewkesbury in 1747, retaining this seat until 1754, and from 1761 until his death he was one of the representatives of Worcestershire. Becoming prominent among the Whigs, Dowdeswell was made Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1765 under the Marquess of Rockingham, and his short tenure of this position appears to have been a successful one, he being in Lecky's words a good financier, but nothing more.[3]
To general astonishment, he refused to abandon his friends and to take office under Chatham, who succeeded Rockingham in August 1766. Dowdeswell then led the Rockingham party in the House of Commons, taking an active part in debate until his death.[3]
In 1774 during the Parliamentary debate of the Boston Port Act he warned the act will "soon inflame all America, and stir up a contention you will not be able to pacify and quiet".[5]
Family
Dowdeswell married Bridget, daughter of Sir William Codrington, 1st Baronet, in 1747. He died at Nice in February 1775. The highly eulogistic epitaph on his monument at Bushley was written by Edmund Burke.[3]
References
- ↑ DOWDESWELL, William (1721-75), of Pull Court, Worcs. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
- ↑ Jeremy Black, "The British and the Grand Tour", (1985), p. 128
- 1 2 3 4
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Dowdeswell, William". Encyclopædia Britannica. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 457. - ↑ Holohan, David: Christianity unveiled by Baron d'Holbach. A controversy in documents. Hodgson Press, Kingston upon Thames (2008) ISBN 978-1-906164-04-1, p. 29
- ↑ Great Britain. Parliament: The History, Debates, and Proceedings of Both Houses of Parliament of Great Britain from the Year 1743 to the Year 1774. In Seven Volumes. Vol. VII. J. Debrett, London (1792), p. 96
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Viscount Gage John Martin |
Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury 1747–1754 With: The Viscount Gage |
Succeeded by Nicolson Calvert John Martin |
| Preceded by John Bulkeley Coventry Edmund Pytts |
Member of Parliament for Worcestershire 1761–1775 With: John Ward 1761–1774 Edward Foley 1774–1775 |
Succeeded by Edward Foley William Lygon |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by George Grenville |
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1765–1766 |
Succeeded by Charles Townshend |
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