James Charles Dowdall (18 February 1873 – 28 June 1939) was an Irish politician and businessman. Born in Chatham, England, Dowdall was a founder member and President of the Cork Industrial Development Association and was a butter and margarine manufacturer. He was also a Director of the Lucania Cycle Company, the Cork Gas Company and Hibernian Insurance Company.Gaughan Rev. Anthony (1996), ''Memoirs of Senator Joseph Connolly.'' Dublin, Irish Academic Press. p.273 He was appointed to the Free State Seanad Éireann as an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

member in December 1922 by the President of the Executive Council,

W. T. Cosgrave William Thomas Cosgrave (5 June 1880 – 16 November 1965) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as the president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932, leader of the Opposition in both the Free State and Ire ...

. He was one of a number of Senators with commercial backgrounds nominated by Cosgrave.O'Sullivan, Donal (1940), ''The Irish Free State and Its Senate.'' London, Faber and Faber. p.91 In the 1928 Seanad election six

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian- ...

Senators were elected under the leadership of Joseph Connolly. They were immediately joined by Colonel

Maurice George Moore Maurice George Moore, (10 August 1854 – 8 September 1939) was an Irish author, soldier and politician. Early life Moore was the second of four sons born to George Henry Moore of Moore Hall, County Mayo, and Mary Blake of Ballinafad, County ...

and subsequently Dowdall found himself frequently joining with the party in divisions together with fellow independent Senator

Jennie Wyse Power Jane Wyse Power ( ga, Siobhán Bean an Phaoraigh; ; 1 May 1858 – 5 January 1941) was an Irish activist, feminist, politician and businesswoman. She was a founder member of Sinn Féin and also of Inghinidhe na hÉireann. She rose in the ranks t ...

. He soon joined the party after their entry into the Seanad. Both he and Wyse Power stood as Fianna Fáil candidates in the 1934 Seanad election and were re-elected for nine years and served until the abolition of the Seanad. Dowdall was also a member of the Governing Body of

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...

. He died on 28 June 1939 and is buried in St. Finbarr's Cemetery. He was married to

Jane Dowdall Jane Dowdall (; 29 September 1899 – 10 December 1974) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, philanthropist, nurse and company director. Early life and family Born Jane Doggett on 29 September 1899 at 28 Smithfield, Dublin. She was the daughte ...

. His brother was

Thomas Dowdall Thomas Patrick Dowdall (1872 – 7 April 1942) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and company director. Early life He was born at Chatham Barracks, Gillingham, Kent, the son of Charles Dowdall, colour sergeant in the 48th foot, and Margare ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowdall, James Charles 1873 births 1939 deaths Independent members of Seanad Éireann Members of the 1922 Seanad Members of the 1925 Seanad Members of the 1928 Seanad Members of the 1931 Seanad Members of the 1934 Seanad Fianna Fáil senators Politicians from County Cork