Background
He was the third son of Richard Southwell of Castle Matrix, Company Limerick, and his wife Lady Elizabeth O"Brien, daughter of Murrough O"Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.
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William Southwell
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Career
Southwell entered the British Army under King William III of England in 1693. During the Nine Years" War, he was wounded at the 2nd Siege of Namur in 1695 and was afterwards promoted to captain. In the War of the Spanish Succession, he took part in the Battle of Cádiz and Battle of Vigo Bay as major of the 6th Foot in 1702.
He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel a year later.
Southwell commanded four hundred grenadiers in the 1st Siege of Barcelona in 1705 and became colonel in the following year. He sold his regiment in 1708 and was appointed captain of the Battleaxe Guards in 1714, protecting the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Kinsale in 1703, representing the constituency until 1713. Subsequently Southwell sat for Castlemartyr until 1715 and then for Baltimore until his death in 1720.
