DOWNING, Sir George (1623-84), of St. Stephen’s Court, Westminster and East Hatley, Cambs.

Chaplain, New Model Army 1646 – 47; scoutmaster-gen. 1649–57.Beresford, 48, 52, 63.

Envoy to Swiss cantons 1655; commr. for security 1656, registers [S] 1656; teller of the Exchequer 1656 – d.; resident, Holland 1658 – May 1660, envoy extraordinary 1661 – 65, ambassador 1671 – 72; commr. for trade Nov. 1660–72; sec. to the Treasury 1667 – 71; commr. for trade with Scotland 1668, customs 1671 – d.; freeman, E.I. Co. 1672; commr. for marine treaty with Holland 1674.CSP Dom. 1655, p. 606; 1657–8, pp. 62, 222; 1660–1, p. 74; 1671, p. 505; 1673–5, p. 287; Old Parl. Hist. xxi. 5; Cal. Treas. Bks. i. 308, 672; iii. 1125, 1281; Bulstrode Pprs. 17; Cal. Ct. Mins. E.I. Co. ed. Sainsbury, ix. 142.

J.p. Mdx. and Westminster 1656 – ?58, Cambs. 1674 – d.; commr. for statutes, Durham college 1656, assessment Cumb., co. Dur., Westmld. and Westminster 1657 Northumb. Aug. 1660–1, 1673 – 80, Cambs. 1663 – 80, Westminster 1667–80.CSP Dom. 1655–6, p. 297.