The Brownlow family were among the largest landowners in Armagh and in 1799 possessed a total rent roll of £9,000.1H. Macdougal, Sketches of Irish Political Character (1799), 299-300. Brownlow’s father represented the county in the Irish parliament 1753-94 and was noted for his staunch independence.2Procs. R. Irish Acad. lvi., sec. C no. 3 (1954), 234. Brownlow did not display the same qualities at Westminster. His return in a by-election was assisted by Lord Gosford3Wellington mss, Gosford to Wellesley, 2 May 1807. and he was probably favourably inclined towards the Grenville ministry, though he left the House rather than vote on Brand’s motion of 9 Apr. 1807. After the ensuing election, at which his return was again backed by Gosford, he was thought to be a friend of the Portland ministry and made an unsuccessful bid for a privy councillorship.4Wellington Supp. Despatches, v. 75, 83. On 1 Feb. 1808 he wrote from Ireland, detained by gout, ‘I am indeed very anxious to give every support that I possibly can, to the present administration’. In July 1808 he was still absent.5Dublin SPO 536/264/3; Wellington Supp. Despatches, v. 472-3.
Brownlow is not known to have spoken in debate and does not seem to have been a reliable attender, though he voted with ministers on the Scheldt inquiry, 23 Feb., and, according to a report subsequently contradicted in view of his absence,6Morning Chron. 5 Apr. 1810. on 30 Mar. 1810. He was listed ‘Government’ by the Whigs. It was thought Brownlow would have liked a peerage, but he renewed his application for a privy councillorship, with the claim of a promise from the Duke of Portland. Wellesley Pole at first noted, 19 Nov. 1810, that Brownlow had ‘held off’ from supporting government, but within a week changed his mind about it and on 5 Dec. advised that Brownlow’s request be granted. Perceval toyed with the idea and then demurred for tactical reasons, as there were several other claimants.7NLI, Richmond mss 63/609, 612, 614; 73/1652, 1654, 1656, 1661, 1662.
Brownlow was still listed a government supporter after the election of 1812. He voted against Catholic relief, 2 Mar. and 24 May 1813. He died 10 July 1815.