James Brown Dougherty

Who was James Brown Dougherty?

Sir James Brown Dougherty PC, KCB, KCVO, was an Irish clergyman, academic, civil servant and politician.

Dougherty was born in Garvagh, County Londonderry, Ireland, to Archibald Dougherty, Esq., M.R.C.S., a surgeon, and Martha Dougherty of Garvagh. He was educated at Queen's College, Belfast, and at Queen's University, Belfast.

In 1880, he married Mary Dougherty, of The Park, Nottingham, with whom he had a son, John Gerald Dougherty. In 1888, he married Elizabeth Dougherty, of Oaklands, Rathgar, Co. Dublin.

Ordained a Presbyterian Minister, he was Professor of Logic and English at then-Presbyterian Magee College, Londonderry from 1879 to 1895. He served as Assistant Commissioner on the Educational Endowments Commission of Ireland and was Commissioner of Education from 1890 to 1895. In 1895, he was appointed Assistant Under-Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and became Under-Secretary for Ireland in 1908. He was appointed Clerk to H.M.'s Privy Council, and Deputy Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1895. He became a Liberal MP for Londonderry City from 1914–18, succeeding fellow Liberal David Cleghorn Hogg.