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 Bicameralism, 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 ...

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, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

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 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...

(1756-1763) with Lord Darlington. Darlington put Gowland forward as candidate for City of Durham at the 1761 general election but he was unsuccessful. He stood again at the same constituency at by-election in December 1761. He was returned as Member of Parliament, 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 Cumberland unitary authority area of Cumbria, England. The name refers to the town's position by the confluence of the River Cocker into the River Derwent. At the 2021 census, the built u ...

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'' was one of the world's longest continuously running commodity magazines. When established in 1760, it not only contained prices of commodities in London, but a wide variety of political, commercial and society news and comme ...

'' 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 all ...

, 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 the City of Durham