ROWLEY, Samuel Campbell (1774-1846), of Mount Campbell, co. Leitrim.

Rowley joined his eldest brother William as representative for Kinsale in the last Irish parliament, on the interest of Lord de Clifford. Like his father and brother he voted against the Union and then changed his mind. He became Member for Downpatrick on the de Clifford interest, in place of his father, who was appointed a commissioner of compensation in February 1801. At the general election he replaced his brother as Member for Kinsale on the same interest.

Rowley was probably an infrequent attender. He saw service at Copenhagen in 1801 and in June of that year his brother applied for him to be promoted in the navy, which he duly was. He voted with government on the subject of the Prince of Wales’s financial affairs, 4 Mar. 1803, and there is no evidence of his voting against either Addington’s or Pitt’s second administration. Yet in May 1804 he was listed ‘Prince’, in September ‘doubtful’ (initially ‘Irish Prince’), in December ‘pro’ government and in July 1805 ‘Opposition’: the uncertainty may have derived from his own absences and from his patron’s political line. In April 1806 he made room for another nominee (by purchase) of Lord de Clifford’s who supported the Grenville ministry. Rowley resumed active service. He died 28 January 1846.1PRO 30/9/9, pt. 1/4, audience bk.; Spencer mss, Irish list, May 1806.