William Southwell

He was the third son of Richard Southwell of Castle Matrix, Co. Limerick, and his wife Lady Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.[2] His older brothers were Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell and Richard Southwell.[3] During the Glorious Revolution of 1689, he and his brother were attainted by the parliament of King James II of England.[4]

Southwell entered the British Army under King William III of England in 1693.[5] During the Nine Years' War, he was wounded at the 2nd Siege of Namur in 1695 and was afterwards promoted to captain.[5] In the War of the Spanish Succession, he took part in the Battle of Cádiz and Battle of Vigo Bay as major of the 6th Foot in 1702.[6] He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel a year later.[6] Southwell commanded four hundred grenadiers in the 1st Siege of Barcelona in 1705 and was made colonel of the 6th Regiment of Foot the following year.[5] He sold his colonelcy to Thomas Harrison in 1708 and was appointed captain of the Battleaxe Guards in 1714, protecting the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.[5]

He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Kinsale in 1703, representing the constituency until 1713.[7] Subsequently, Southwell sat for Castlemartyr until 1715 and then for Baltimore until his death in 1720.[7]

In 1709, he married Lucy Bowen, younger daughter of William Bowen,[8] of Ballyadams, Co. Laois, a grandson of Sir William Domville, Attorney General for Ireland. By her he had six sons and nine daughters.[4] His third son, and eventual heir, Bowen was a Member of Parliament for Downpatrick.[3]