William McDowall III of Garthland

17th Nov 1749 - 1810


Biography

West India merchant and politician. Son of William McDowall II (c. 1719-1784) and Elizabeth Graham. His grandfather Col. William McDowall I moved to Nevis c. 1700 and became a prominent planter there, returning to Scotland in 1724 and establishing himself as a successful West India merchant, dying in 1748. His father William McDowall II was MP for Renfrewshire 1768-1774. Owner of property in Grenada and St Kitts as well as extensive lands in west-central Scotland which he bequeathed in trust to William McDowall (1770-1840, q.v. under William McDowall the younger of Castle Semple), son of his brother James.

  1. Will of William McDowall of Garthland proved 24/50/1817.

Sources

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/mcdowall-william-1749-1810; http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/mcdowall-william-1719-84#family-relations [both accessed 27/03/2015].

  1. PROB 11/1592/456.

Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
died unmarried
Occupation
Politician and merchant

Associated Estates (2)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1817 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Previous owner
1777 [EA] - 1777 [LA] → Mortgagee-in-Possession

Inferred from Douglas Hamilton’s ‘Scottish Trading in the Caribbean: The Rise and Fall of Houstoun & Co.’, in Ned C. Landsman (ed), Nation and Province in the First British Empire: Scotland and the Americas, 1600-1800 (Bucknell University Press, 2001): ''In July 1777, Alexander Houstoun & co. took over the ownership of the Mount Alexander estate from their debtor Alexander Wilson.'


Legacies Summary

Commercial (1)

Partner
Alexander Houstoun & Co.
West India merchant  
 

Cultural (1)

Rector
Glasgow University...... 
notes →

Political (1)

MP
 
election →
Renfrewshire Renfrewshire
1783 - 1786
election →
Ayrshire Ayrshire
1789 - 1790
election →
Glasgow Burghs Dumbarton / Lanark / Renfrew
1790 - 1802
election →
Renfrewshire Renfrewshire
1802 - 1810

Relationships (5)

Uncle → Nephew
Grandson → Grandfather
Son → Father
Brothers
Testator → Trustee
Notes →
Archibald Campbell appears in Grenada award no. 688 as trustee of William McDowall deceased: William McDowall of Garthland appears as the likely...

Addresses (1)

Castle Semple, Renfrewshire, Central Scotland, Scotland