Lewis Payn Dawnay

Who was Lewis Payn Dawnay?

Lewis Payn Dawnay was an English Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1892.

Dawnay was the second son of William Dawnay, 7th Viscount Downe and his wife Mary Isabel Bagot, daughter of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was educated at Eton College and joined the Coldstream Guards, reaching the rank of Colonel.

In 1874 Dawnay stood unsuccessfully for parliament at York. At the 1880 general election he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Thirsk, and held that seat until it was replaced under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. He was then elected as MP for the replacement constituency of Thirsk and Malton, and held the seat until he stood down in 1892. At this time, he acquired various family properties at Newton-on-Ouse.

Dawnay died at the age of 64

Dawnay married Victoria Alexandria Elizabeth Grey 1877. His brother Hugh was an army general and cricketer.