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Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe

1727 – 1760

Member of the Parliament of Great Britain

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About Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe

Lived 1727 – 1760 (aged 33). Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe was a politician.

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pleydell Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe FRS (8 April 1727 – 9 December 1760), 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. He succeeded his grandfather in the viscountcy in May 1741, aged 14. 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 House of Commons and in 1750 he was returned as one of two Knights of the Shire for Yorkshire, a seat he held until his death ten years later. Lord Downe also served in the Seven Years' War as a lieutenant-colonel in the 25th Foot. He fought in the Battle of Minden in 1759 and commanded the regiment in the Battle of Campen in October 1760. He died in December 1760 from wounds received during the latter battle, aged 33.

Lord Downe never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, John.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Eton College
Positions held
Member of the 10th Parliament of Great Britain, Member of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society

People in Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe?

Member of the Parliament of Great Britain

When was Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe born?

Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe was born on 8 April 1727.

When did Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe die?

Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe died on 9 December 1760.

What was Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe's occupation?

Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe was a politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe

· Wikidata: Q5720226

· DBpedia: Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe. https://biography.guide/henry-dawnay-3rd-viscount-downe/

MLA: "Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-dawnay-3rd-viscount-downe/.

Chicago: "Henry Dawnay, 3rd Viscount Downe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-dawnay-3rd-viscount-downe/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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