George Downing + Mary Townsend

1 child

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Elizabeth Downing

–

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Birth: 1685 29 22 — Cambridgeshire, England

Christening: October 24, 1685 29 22 — Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, England

LifeSketch: Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet KB MP (baptised 24 October 1685 – 10 June 1749) was a British landowner and initially Tory, but later Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1710 and 1749. Through a donation in his will, he was the founder of Downing College, Cambridge. Downing was the only son of Sir George Downing, 2nd Baronet, and his wife, Lady Catharine Cecil, daughter of James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury. His grandfather, who was created a baronet in 1663, was the namesake of Downing Street. Lady Catharine died in 1688, and, as her husband was apparently considered an unsuitable parent, the young George was brought up in the family of his maternal aunt, Lady Mary Cecil Forester, the wife of Sir William Forester of Dothill Park, in Wellington, Shropshire. In 1700, aged 15, "by procurement and persuasion of those in whose keeping he was", he married his 13-year-old cousin, Sir William's daughter, Mary, who ultimately died childless in 1734. Between his marriage and 1704 he travelled in Europe, mainly Holland, Germany, Denmark and Italy. While George was away, Mary went against George's explicit demand that she should not accept a place at court, when she became a Maid of Honour to Queen Anne. On George's return, it was apparent that the marriage had broken down. The couple agreed a financial settlement only in 1715, whereupon Mary petitioned the House of Lords to have the marriage dissolved because of non-consummation. The petition was refused and they remained married. They jointly petitioned again in 1717, asking for a separation, which was granted. That made them legally independent, with no responsibility to one another. However, neither could remarry, and neither could have a legitimate heir. He was a Member of Parliament for the pocket borough of Dunwich, Suffolk in the parliaments of 1710 and 1713. He lost the 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. He was an 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 Companion of the Order of the Bath. Downing succeeded to his father's baronetcy and estates in 1711. He built a grand family seat in Gamlingay Park in Cambridgeshire. Death and estate Upon his own death, aged 63, in 1749, his title passed to his cousin, Sir Jacob Downing, 4th Baronet, with his will providing that if his line should die out, his fortune and Gamlingay estate should be used to found a college at Cambridge University. Sir Jacob Downing died childless in 1764, but his widow, Lady Margaret Downing, argued that George Downing's fortune should pass to her. This case was tied up in litigation for decades at considerable expense before the courts finally ordered that the estate should be used to found a college at Cambridge, which occurred with the founding of Downing College, Cambridge in 1800. Lady Margaret then had the Downing mansion demolished in 1776. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_George_Downing,_3rd_Baronet

INDI:FSID: L8PL-XGV

Death: June 10, 1749 — Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, England

Burial: 1749 — All Saints Church, Croydon, Cambridgeshire, England

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Compact tree Interactive tree Pedigree map Family with spouse Mary Forester Family with spouse Mary Townsend Elizabeth Downing

George Downing

1685–1749

Birth: 1685 29 22 — Cambridgeshire, England

Death: June 10, 1749 — Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, England

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Birth: 1656 32 23 — Essex, London, England

Marriage: July 12, 1683 — Glamorganshire, Wales

LifeSketch: Sir George Downing, 2nd Baronet (c. 1656 – June 1711) was a British civil servant. He was the son and heir of Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet, for whom Downing Street is named. His father worked as Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer from 1660 until 1684 and was made a baronet of East Hatley, in 1663. In 1680, the younger George Downing joined his father as a Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer, holding that position until April 1689. His father died in July 1684, and the younger Downing inherited his father's baronetcy. On 12 July 1683, Downing married Lady Catharine Cecil, daughter of James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, and his wife Lady Margaret Manners, daughter of the Earl of Rutland. They had one son before Lady Catharine's death in 1688, George Downing, who inherited his father's title upon the second baronet's death in June 1711. George married Mary Forester, daughter of Sir William Forester of Dothill, Shropshire, in whose home he was brought up following his mother's death. He also served as Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1686–87. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_George_Downing,_2nd_Baronet

INDI:FSID: G8HZ-WDX

Death: June 1711 — Gaminglay, Cambridgeshire, England

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