William McDowall facts for kids

William McDowall (born around 1749 – died April 3, 1810) was an important Scottish politician. He owned large estates like Garthland and Castle Semple. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was elected to represent people in the British Parliament.

William McDowall's Early Life and Education

William McDowall was the oldest son of William McDowall, who was also a Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire from 1768 to 1774. His mother was Elizabeth Graham. William also had a younger brother, David McDowall-Grant, who briefly served as an MP for Banffshire.

William McDowall went to Glasgow University in 1761. After his studies, he became an advocate in 1771. An advocate is a type of lawyer who can speak in higher courts.

William McDowall's Time in Parliament

William McDowall was a Member of Parliament for many years, representing different areas in Scotland.

• He represented Renfrewshire from 1783 to 1786.
• He then represented Ayrshire from 1789 to 1790.
• After that, he was the MP for Glasgow Burghs from 1790 to 1802.
• Finally, he returned to represent Renfrewshire from 1802 until his death in 1810.

William McDowall's Business and Land Holdings

William McDowall owned a lot of land in west-central Scotland. He also had properties in the Caribbean, specifically in Grenada and St Kitts. When he died, he left his lands to his nephew, William McDowall (1770-1840), who was the son of his brother James.

He was also a business partner in a big company called Alexander Houston & Co. This company was based in Glasgow and traded a lot with the West Indies. However, the company faced problems and failed in 1801.

William McDowall's Other Important Roles

Besides being an MP, William McDowall held other important positions:

• He was the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire from 1794 until he died. A Lord Lieutenant is the King or Queen's personal representative in a county.
• He also served as the Rector of Glasgow University from 1795 to 1797. The Rector is a senior official at a university, often elected by the students.

William McDowall's Family Connections

William McDowall's younger brother, James McDowall, was also a very important person in Glasgow. He served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow twice. The Lord Provost is like the mayor of a city in Scotland.