William Brownlow (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Brownlow JP
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|
|---|---|
| Born | 9 September 1921 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches |
William Stephen Brownlow was a British Army officer and a politician from Northern Ireland. He was born on October 9, 1921, and passed away in May 1998. He was known for his military service and his work in local government and politics.
William Brownlow's Early Life and Army Days
William Brownlow was born in a place called Portaferry in County Down. His father, Guy Brownlow, was also a Colonel in the army. William went to a famous school called Eton College.
When the Second World War began, William joined the British Army. He joined the same regiment, or army unit, that his father had been in, called the Rifle Brigade. During the war, he was injured and was recognized for his bravery three times. This recognition is called being "Mentioned in Despatches."
William left the army in 1954 with the rank of major. Later, in 1973, he was given the special rank of Honorary Colonel in the Northern Irish Militia, which is part of the Royal Irish Rangers.
William Brownlow's Political Career
After his time in the army, William Brownlow became involved in public service and politics.
In 1956, he became a Justice of the Peace for County Down. This role means he helped with local legal matters. In 1959, he was the High Sheriff of Down, which is another important local position.
He became a Deputy Lieutenant of County Down in 1961. From 1970 to 1973, he was a member of the Down County Council for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). This council helped run local services.
In 1973, William was chosen to be a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Down. He supported the Sunningdale Agreement, which was a plan to share power in Northern Ireland. However, this Assembly never fully started its work.
He continued to be involved in politics, running for different positions. He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Down from 1990 to 1996. This is a special role where he represented the King or Queen in the county.
William Brownlow's Personal Life
William Brownlow married Eveleigh Panter on January 11, 1961. They had three children together:
- James George Christy Brownlow, born in 1962
- Camilla Jane Brownlow, born in 1964
- Melissa Anne Brownlow, born in 1968
Outside of his public life, William Brownlow loved fox hunting. People who knew him in this sport often called him "The Major." After he passed away, a special award called the "Brownlow Trophy" was created. It is given each year to someone who has done a lot for country sports and protecting nature in Ireland.
William was also known for his unique way of traveling. In the 1960s, he used a special car that could drive on land and float on water! He used this "amphibious car" to cross Strangford Lough to visit his foxhounds. He kept doing this until he convinced local leaders to start a ferry service between Portaferry and Strangford.
