Rare marble bust of George III by Peter Turnerelli
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William, 1st Baron by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, Sothebys 2009
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Baron Downes of Merville UCD
Robert Downes married Elizabeth Twigg
of Donnybrook 18 Feb 1737
MP for County Kildare
died circa 1754
Robert Downes born circa 1708 in Dublin son of Dive Downes, Bishop of Cork and Ross, and his fourth wife
Catherine Fitzgerald. He graduated Trinity in 1728 and lived at Donnybrook. He married Elizabeth Twigg,
daughter of Thomas Twigg of Donnybrook on 18 Feb 1737. He was MP for the County of Kildare in 1735.
Robert's sister Anne Downes married Thomas Burgh and was the mother of Margaretta Foster, 1st
Viscountess Ferrard, and grandmother of Ulysses Burgh.
1 Dive Downes took holy orders and was chaplain to the Duke of Leinster in 1785. He died
unmarried circa 1798.
2 William Downes, second son born circa 1752 at Donnybrook Castle (the replacement house
subsequently became a boarding school and later a nunnery). William attended Trinity College
Dublin and graduated BA in 1773 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1776. He was appointed a
judge of the Court of King's Bench in 1792. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1806 when
he was made Vice Chancellor, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland. He had a house at
Merrion Square and his county seat was Merville, Stillorgan on the Donnybrook Road. He was
created Baron Downes, of Aghanville in the King's County (First Baron Downes), on his
retirement in 1822. This peerage had a special remainder to his cousin Sir Ulysses Burgh who
became 2nd Baron Downes as William had never married or had children. He was a member of
the RHS and together with his gardener Mr Levinston won numerous awards. William died at
Merville on Thursday 2 Mar 1826. The funeral procession was conducted with much
magnificence and solemnity. The remains left Merville preceded by criers, servitors and tipstaffs of
the various courts. These were followed by the Baron's tenants dressed with scarfs and headbands.
The hearse was drawn by six horses and was followed by three morning coaches. William was buried
at St Anne's, Dublin. The plants and live stock were auctioned shortly after his death and the house was
put up for sale in the following month following a break in. A year later the contents were sold by
auction over three days by Mack, Williams & Gibton, Auctioneers. Included in the sale was a marble
bust of George III by Peter Turnerelli. The third day of the sale was dedicated to selling the contents of
the wine cellar - some 122 doz bottles of Sherry, Hock, Madeira and Port from the stores of Messrs
Sneyd French & Barton.
3 Thomas Downes died 8 Sep 1793 at Merrion Square.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2021
Robert Downes married Elizabeth Twigg
of Donnybrook 18 Feb 1737
MP for County Kildare
died circa 1754
Robert Downes born circa 1708 in Dublin son of Dive Downes, Bishop of Cork and Ross, and his fourth wife
Catherine Fitzgerald. He graduated Trinity in 1728 and lived at Donnybrook. He married Elizabeth Twigg,
daughter of Thomas Twigg of Donnybrook on 18 Feb 1737. He was MP for the County of Kildare in 1735.
Robert's sister Anne Downes married Thomas Burgh and was the mother of Margaretta Foster, 1st
Viscountess Ferrard, and grandmother of Ulysses Burgh.
1 Dive Downes took holy orders and was chaplain to the Duke of Leinster in 1785. He died
unmarried circa 1798.
2 William Downes, second son born circa 1752 at Donnybrook Castle (the replacement house
subsequently became a boarding school and later a nunnery). William attended Trinity College
Dublin and graduated BA in 1773 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1776. He was appointed a
judge of the Court of King's Bench in 1792. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1806 when
he was made Vice Chancellor, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland. He had a house at
Merrion Square and his county seat was Merville, Stillorgan on the Donnybrook Road. He was
created Baron Downes, of Aghanville in the King's County (First Baron Downes), on his
retirement in 1822. This peerage had a special remainder to his cousin Sir Ulysses Burgh who
became 2nd Baron Downes as William had never married or had children. He was a member of
the RHS and together with his gardener Mr Levinston won numerous awards. William died at
Merville on Thursday 2 Mar 1826. The funeral procession was conducted with much
magnificence and solemnity. The remains left Merville preceded by criers, servitors and tipstaffs of
the various courts. These were followed by the Baron's tenants dressed with scarfs and headbands.
The hearse was drawn by six horses and was followed by three morning coaches. William was buried
at St Anne's, Dublin. The plants and live stock were auctioned shortly after his death and the house was
put up for sale in the following month following a break in. A year later the contents were sold by
auction over three days by Mack, Williams & Gibton, Auctioneers. Included in the sale was a marble
bust of George III by Peter Turnerelli. The third day of the sale was dedicated to selling the contents of
the wine cellar - some 122 doz bottles of Sherry, Hock, Madeira and Port from the stores of Messrs
Sneyd French & Barton.
3 Thomas Downes died 8 Sep 1793 at Merrion Square.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2021