Ralph Gowland (c. 1722–c. 1782) was a British soldier and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

at times between 1761 and 1780. Gowland was the son of Samuel Gowland, attorney, of Cook's Court,

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. (The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn.) Lincoln ...

and his wife Averil Skinner. He married Ann Darby, daughter of John Darby of Foots Cray, Kent on 25 July 1749 and lived at Little Eppleton County Durham. He was a major in the Durham Militia and served in the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

(1756-1763) with

Lord Darlington Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or a ...

. Darlington put Gowland forward as candidate for City of Durham at the

1761 general election The 1761 British general election returned members to serve in the House of Commons of Great Britain, House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be summoned, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Sco ...

but he was unsuccessful. He stood again at the same constituency at by-election in December 1761. He was returned as

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

, but unseated on petition. He could not compete with the Lambtons and Tempests in wealth or in popularity, and found it difficult to meet the cost of the elections and the petition. In 1775 Gowland was recommended by Captain George Johnstone, RN to Sir James Lowther as a candidate for

Cockermouth Cockermouth is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England, so named because it is at the confluence of the River Cocker as it flows into the River Derwent. The mid-2010 census estimates state that Cocke ...

in the most glowing terms. "If you have not communicated your intentions to Major Gowland I shall presume to bring an image to your mind that has disturbed me all night. Genius, generosity, fortitude, and affability are painted on his mien, loving and beloved by all men of worth and real virtue. Known and esteemed by the first characters for the extent of his knowledge, with an elocution capable of enforcing his opinions. Talbot raised Thompson, Hertford, David Hume, Rockingham, Burke. But you have a prize in your power superior to all three and your glory and advantage would be in proportion." Gowland was returned as MP for Cockermouth at a by-election of January 1775. His career in the House did not live up to the eulogy. He supported the opposition when he voted. After February 1779 he was marked on division lists as absent or too ill to attend and there is no record of his having spoken in the House. ''

The Public Ledger ''The Public Ledger'' is one of the world's longest continuously running magazines. Today it provides agricultural commodity news, analyses and prices. When established in 1760, however, it not only contained prices of commodities in London, but ...

'' in 1779 only said about him that "he pins his political faith" on Sir James, and votes with him. He did not stand again in

1780 Events January–March * January 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cape St. Vincent: British Admiral Sir George Rodney defeats a Spanish fleet. * February 19 – The legislature of New York votes to allow ...

, and died soon after.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gowland, Ralph 1720s births 1780s deaths British MPs 1761–1768 British MPs 1774–1780 Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for City of Durham