Pownall, Thomas
, a gentleman of considerable learning and political knowledge, was born in 1722, and educated at Lincoln. His first appearance in public life was when appointed secretary to the commissioners for trade and plantations in 1745, subjects with which he must have made himself early acquainted, as he had not yet reached his twenty-fourth year. In 1753 he went to America, and in the following year was concerned in a matter which eventually proved of great importance. At the beginning of what has been called the seven years’ war with France, which commenced in America in 1754, two years before it broke out in Europe, a number of persons, styled commissioners, being deputed from each colony, assembled at Albany, to consider of defending themselves against the French, who were making alarming encroachments on their back settlements. This assembly was called the Albany Congress, and became the precedent for that other more remarkable congress established at the revolution in 1773. As soon as the intention of the colonies to hold a congress at Albany was known in England, Mr. Pownall immediately foresaw the danger to the mother country, if such a general union should be permitted, and presented a strong memorial to lord Halifax, the secretary of state, on the subject, in 1754. The plan which the congress had in view was, to form agreat council of deputies from all the colonies, with a governor-general to be appointed by the crown, and empowered to take measures for the common safety, and to raise money for the execution of their designs. The ministers at home did not approve of this plan; but, seeing that they could not prevent the commissioners meeting, they resolved to take advantage of this distress of the colonies, and turn the subject of deliberation to their own account. For this purpose they sent over a proposal, that the congress should be assisted in their considerations by two of the king’s council from each colony, be empowered to erect forts, to levy troops, and to draw on the treasury in London for the money wanted and the treasury to be reimbursed by a tax on the colonies, to be laid by the British parliament; but this proposal was peremptorily rejected, | because it gave the British parliament a power to tax the colonies. Although Mr. Pownall did not agtee with the ministry in the whole extent of their proposal, yet they thought him so well acquainted with the affairs of the colonies, that in 1757 they appointed him governor of Massachusetts bay.
After two years’ residence, some political differences with some of the leading men of the province, induced him to solicit to be recalled; and in 1751) he succeeded Mr. Bernard as governor of New Jersey but he retained his post a very short time, being almost immediately appointed governor, captain -general, and vice-admiral, of South Carolina. Here he continued until 1761, when he was recalled, at his own desire and on his arrival in London, he was appointed director-general of the office of controul, with the rank of colonel in the army, under the command of prince Ferdinand, in Germany. At the end of the war he returned to England, where his accounts were examined, and passed with honour.
At the general election, 1768, he was chosen representative in parliament for Tregony in Cornwall, and in 1775 for Minehead in Somersetshire, and on all cccasions vigorously opposed the measures which led to the war with America; and, from the knowledge which he was supposed to have acquired in that country, was listened to with attention. Of the importance of his speeches he had himself a considerable opinion, by his sending them in manuscript, to be printed in Almon’s Parliamentary Register. He is also said to have assisted that bookseller in his “American Remembrancer,” a periodical paper which contained all the calumny, as well as all the arguments, which the opponents of the measures of administration could bring together. At the general election in 1780 he retired from parliament, and resided, in his latter years, at Bath, where ie died Feb. 25, 1805, in the 83d year of his age, if our date of his birth be correct.
Governor Pownall was twice married first, in 1765, to lady Fawkener, relict of Sir Everard Fawkener, and daughter of lieutenant-general Churchill, who died in 1777 and secondly, in 1784, to Mrs. Astell, of Everton-house, in Bedfordshire; but had no issue by either.
He had a vigorous and comprehensive mind which by a
liberal education, and constant cultivation during along
series of years, was furnished with an uncommon fund of
| various knowledge, both as a politician and antiquary but
not, in both characters, without some singular opinions.
His works were very numerous. The first, and most popular, which went through several editions, was his “Ad*
ministration of the Colonies.” 2. Observations on a
Bread Bill, which he introduced in parliament and, 3<
“Of the Laws and Commissions of Sewers” both printed,
but not published. 4. An ironical pamphlet, entitled
“Considerations on the indignity suffered by the Crown,
and dishonour brought upon the Nation, by the Marriage
of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland with an
English subject,” 1772, 4to. 5. A pamphlet on “The
high price of Bread,” &c. 1774, 8vo. 6. “A Topographical Description of such parts of North America as are
contained in the annexed map of the middle British Colonies, &c. in North America,” 1776, folio. 7. “A Letter
to Adam Smith, LL.D. F. R. S.” respecting his “Wealth
of Nations,” 1776, 4to. 8. “Drainage and Navigation,
but one united work,” 1776, 8vo. 9. “A Treatise on the
study of Antiquities,” 1782, 8vo. 10. “A Memorial addressed to the Sovereigns of America,” 1782 *. 11. “Two
Memorials, with an explanatory Preface.” 12. “Memorial addressed to the Sovereigns of Europe and the Atlantic,” 1783. 13. “Proposal for founding University Professorships for Architecture, Painting, and Sculpture,” 1786.
14. “Answer to a Letter on the Jutae or Viti.” 15. “Notices and Descriptions of Antiquities of the Provincia Romana of Gaul, now Provence, Languedoc, and Dauphiny:
with Dissertations on the subjects of which those are exemplars and an Appendix, describing the Roman Baths and
Thermae, discovered in 1784, at Badenweiler,” 1787, 4to.
16. “An Antiquarian Romance, endeavouring to mark a
line by which the most ancient people, and the processions
of the earliest inhabitancy of Europe, may be investigated, 11
1795, 8vo. 17.” Descriptions and Explanations of the
Remains of some Roman Antiquities dug up in the city of
Bath in 1790, with an Engraving from Drawings made on
the spot,“1795, 4to. 18.” Considerations on the Scarcity and high Prices of Bread Corn,“&c, 1796. He contributed also many papers to the Archaeologia of the Society
of Antiquaries, of which he was chosen a fellow in 1772,
He was elected F. R.S. in 1765. He is also said to have
His brother, John Pownall, was also an antiquary, and contributed a few articles to the Archaeologia. He died July 17, 1795. 1
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