Family and Education

b. ?1731, 3rd s. of Adm. Sir William Rowley^†, KB, by Arabella, da. and h. of Capt. George Dawson of Dawson Park, co. Londonderry. educ. Trinity Hall, Camb. 1750; I. Temple 1750, called 1754. m. 5 May 1763, Letitia, da. and h. of Samuel Campbell of Mount Campbell, 4s. 1da.

Offices Held

MP [I] 1771-1800.

Commr. of appeals, revenue board [I] 1775-83; commr. of compensation [I] 1801-d.

Biography

Rowley, a barrister, sat in the Irish parliament for Downpatrick, on the interest of his wife’s sister’s husband, Lord de Clifford. After acting with opposition for a few years, he was a supporter of the Irish government by 1795. Nevertheless, he voted against the Union. He never took his seat at Westminster, being awarded the office of commissioner of Union compensations, which was incompatible with Parliament. He died 25 Mar. 1805, aged 74.

Cornwallis Corresp. iii. 164; PRO 30/9/13, pt. 2.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes