Dowdeswell, William, 1721-1775

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English politician.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Pull Court, to Lord Rockingham, 1769 Sept. 7. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270527268

Epithet: politician

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000508.0x0003d9

Epithet: MP

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000508.0x0003d7

English politician-chancellor of the exchequer, etc.

From the description of Autograph signature to an order (for payment) : Treasury Chambers, 1765 Sept. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270535206

British politician, William Dowdeswell (1721-1785), was the son of William Dowdeswell (1682--1728), landowner and politician, and Amy Hammond (d. 1728). He attended Westminster School, Oxford University, and the University of Leiden. In 1747, he married Bridget Codrington; they had 13 children. Between 1747 and 1754, Dowdeswell was the MP for Tewkesbury. For the next 6 years, Dowdeswell acted as a strategist and advisor for the Rockingham Whigs. He re-entered Parliament for Worcestershire in 1761 and held that seat, uncontested, until his death.

Throughout his political career, financial issues deeply interested Dowdeswell. He was a vocal advocate for the reduction of the army and navy, and gained prominence as an outspoken opponent of the Cider Tax in 1763. Dowdeswell warned of the inherent danger in the Townshend Duties, predicting American resistance to any duty for revenue purposes, yet believed Great Britain would lose sovereignty over the colonies if it did not maintain its right of taxation. When Lord Rockingham became prime minister in 1765, Dowdeswell was appointed chancellor of the exchequer. He remained loyal to Rockingham when William Pitt, 1st earl of Chatham, took over as prime minister in 1766, and he helped formulate policies that unified the Rockinghams during their years in opposition. Dowdeswell became Rockingham's principal spokesman in the House of Commons, and was his close friend and adviser.

Dowdeswell's health faltered in 1774 and, at his doctor's recommendation, he traveled to Nice, France, to recover. He died there in February 1775.

From the guide to the William Dowdeswell papers, Dowdeswell, William papers, 1765-1774, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Dowdeswell, William, 1721-1775. William Dowdeswell papers, 1765-1774. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Sydney, Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount, 1723-1800. Document signed : Whitehall, 1765 Sept. 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf William Dowdeswell papers 1765-1774 Dowdeswell, William papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Great Britain. Commissioners of Excise. Great Britain Commissioners of Excise abstract, 1684-1764. University at Albany, University Libraries
referencedIn Vol. CCCXI (ff. 386). 4-12 Oct. 1841.includes:f. 1 Adolphus Bach: Letter to Sir R. Peel: 1841. ff. 3, 7 Henry James Baillie, MP: Correspondence with Sir R. Peel: 1841, 1842. f. 9 Charles Barry Baldwin, MP: Correspondence with Sir R. Peel: 1841-1846... British Library
referencedIn Charles Townshend papers 1660-1804 1748-1767 Townshend, Charles papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Dowdeswell, William, 1721-1775. Autograph letter signed : Pull Court, to Lord Rockingham, 1769 Sept. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Dowdeswell, William, 1721-1775. Correspondence, June 27, 1765-June 21, 1774. [microform]. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Dowdeswell, William, 1721-1775. Autograph signature to an order (for payment) : Treasury Chambers, 1765 Sept. 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Vol. V (ff. 190). 2 Jan. 1769-17 Oct. 1777.includes:ff. 1, 5, 39, 67, 83, 85, 91 William Knox: Letters to G. Grenville: 1768-1769.ff. 3-148 passim Thomas Whately, politician: Correspondence with G. Grenville: 1766-1770.f. 7 William Dowdeswell, ... British Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797. person
associatedWith Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795. person
associatedWith Cornwall, Charles Wolfran, 1735-1789. person
associatedWith Dowdeswell, Bridget, 1729-1818 person
associatedWith East India Company. corporateBody
associatedWith England. Parliament. House of Commons. corporateBody
associatedWith England. Parliament. House of Lords. corporateBody
associatedWith Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811. person
associatedWith Great Britain. Commissioners of Excise. corporateBody
associatedWith Great Britain. Parliament. corporateBody
associatedWith Great Britain. Treasury. corporateBody
associatedWith Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778 person
associatedWith Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox, Duke of, 1735-1806. person
associatedWith Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquis of, 1730-1782. person
associatedWith Sydney, Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount, 1723-1800. person
associatedWith Sydney, Thomas Townshend, Viscount, 1733-1800 person
associatedWith Tory Party (Great Britain) corporateBody
associatedWith Townshend, Charles, 1725-1767. person
associatedWith Whig Party (Great Britain) corporateBody
associatedWith Wilkes, John, 1725-1797. person
associatedWith Winnington, Edward, 1728-1791. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Edinburgh, Scotland
London, England
United States
Ireland
Great Britain
Ireland
Great Britain
Subject
Elections
Taxation
Taxation
Tea tax (American colonies)
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1721

Death 1775-02-06

Information

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