Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet

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Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet (1685–1749), was a politician and, through a donation in his will, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge.[1]

He was a Member of Parliament for the pocket borough of Dunwich, Suffolk in the parliaments of 1710 and 1713. He lost 1715 election but, with the aid of a 99-year lease from George I for the borough, regained the seat in 1722. He held the seat from that time until his death.[1]

He was uninspiring politician but remained loyal to the ministries of Robert Walpole and subsequently Henry Pelham. In 1732 as a result of his loyalty, he was created a knight of Order of the Bath.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Gordon Goodwin, ‘Downing, Sir George, third baronet (1685–1749)’, rev. Philip Carter, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004