Background
Dawnay was the eldest son of John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe, by Laura, daughter of William Burton, of Luffenham, Rutland. He succeeded his father in the viscountcy in 1780.
Dawnay was the eldest son of John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe, by Laura, daughter of William Burton, of Luffenham, Rutland. He succeeded his father in the viscountcy in 1780.
However, as this was an Irish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of Lords. The latter year he was created Baron Dawnay, of Cowick in the County of York, in the Peerage of Great Britain, which gave him a seat in the House of Lords. Lord Downe was twice married.
There were no children from the two marriages.
Downe died in February 1832, aged 67. His widow spent her later years at Bowden Hall in Upton Street Leonards, where she endowed the local primary school.
The Viscountess Downe died in March 1867.
16th Parliament of Great Britain. 17th Parliament of Great Britain]
He subsequently sat as Member of Parliament for Petersfield between 1787 and 1790 and for Wootton Basset between 1790 and 1796.