William Dawson, 1st Viscount Carlow

William Henry Dawson, 1st Viscount Carlow (died 22 August 1779) was an Anglo-Irish politician and peer.

Dawson was the son of Ephraim Dawson of Queen's County and Anne Preston, daughter and heiress of Samuel Preston.[1]

Between 1733 and 1760, Dawson was a Member of Parliament for Portarlington in the Irish House of Commons. In 1761 he was elected to represent Queen's County, which he did until 1768. He then sat for Portarlington again between 1769 and 1770.[2] On 29 May 1770 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Dawson of Dawson's Court in the Peerage of Ireland, and Dawson assumed his seat in the Irish House of Lords. On 24 July 1776 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Carlow, also in the Peerage of Ireland.[1] Between 1750 and his death, Dawson was a Governor of Queen's County.

On 8 December 1737, he married Mary Damer, daughter of Joseph Damer and sister of Joseph Damer, 1st Earl of Dorchester. They had five sons and three daughters. Dawson was succeeded in his title by his eldest son, John Dawson.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. Burke's Peerage Limited. 1850. p. 772.
  2. ^ Johnston-Liik, E. M. (2006). MPs in Dublin: Companion to History of the Irish Parliament, 1692-1800. Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 83. ISBN 1903688604.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Portarlington
1733–1760
With: Lord George Sackville
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Queen's County
1761–1768
With: William Pole
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Portarlington
1769–1770
With: Roger Palmer
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Governor of Queen's County
1750–1779
Succeeded by
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Viscount Carlow
1776–1779
Succeeded by
Baron Dawson
1770–1779