In this capacity, during the whole of his tenure, he did all in his power to assist in the work of fostering and improving the linen industry in Ireland, which was undertaken primarily by Samuel-Louis Crommelin [q. v.], one of whose factories was erected at Rathkeale; and in 1709 he encouraged a large number of poor protestant emigrants from the Palatinate and Suabia to settle in three villages on his estate in co. Limerick. By patent, dated 4 Sept. 1717, he was created Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress (Matras) in the Irish House of Lords. Three years later, on 4 Aug. 1720, he died suddenly at Dublin, and was buried at Rathkeale. He married, in April 1696, Meliora, eldest daughter of Thomas Coningsby, baron of Clanbrassil (and afterwards Earl of Coningsby) [q. v.]; she died in London in February 1736. Of their numerous family, Thomas (1698–1766) succeeded him as second Baron Southwell; Henry entered the army, and represented Limerick in parliament (1735–1758); Robert, a naval volunteer, was killed in a duel by Henry Luttrell on 30 May 1724, and buried in St. James's, Piccadilly; and Richard became in 1742 rector of Dungory in the diocese of Cloyne.
The first baron's younger brother, William Southwell (1669–1719), entered the army under William III, obtaining a commission in Colonel Hamilton's regiment of foot, on 1 Sept. 1693; he was promoted captain-lieutenant on 20 Aug. 1694, and, having been severely wounded at the assault of Terra Nova, Namur, was promoted captain on 4 Sept. 1695. He became major of Colonel James Rivers's (6th) regiment of foot on 5 Feb. 1702, and lieutenant-colonel on 1 Jan. 1704. He greatly distinguished himself in the operations which led up to the capture of Barcelona in September 1705. Prince George of Hesse, whose first idea was to surprise the fortress of Monjuich (which dominated the town), entrusted the command of four hundred English and Irish grenadiers to Southwell. When this plan had to be abandoned for an escalade, the prince ordered him to lead the advance. With great bravery his men climbed the bank and charged the enemy, who retreated after but one volley. Gallantly leading his grenadiers under a heavy fire of musketry, Southwell pressed on to the ditch, only to find that the scaling ladders were too short. Prince George having been mortally wounded in an attempt to remedy this disaster by a diversion, Southwell, with Charlemont and Prince Henry, did his utmost to revive the drooping spirits of the besiegers. Four days later, on 17 Sept., after a bombardment by Michael Richards [q. v.], under which the powder in the fortress exploded, Southwell was the first officer to attain the breach, which he entered sword in hand, whereupon the garrison promptly surrendered, and Barcelona was captured three weeks later. Southwell was made temporary governor of Monjuich, and on 6 Feb. 1706 was promoted colonel. His conduct was highly praised by Marlborough in a letter to Peterborough dated February 1707. He sold his regiment on 14 June 1708 to Colonel Harrison for five thousand guineas. On 7 Nov. 1714 he was appointed captain of the company of guards, armed with battleaxes, appointed to attend the lord lieutenant. Next year he was returned to the Irish House of Commons for Baltimore, which he represented until his death, on 21 Jan. 1719. He married Lucy, younger daughter and coheiress of William Bowen of Ballydans in Queen's County (she died on 25 Aug. 1733), by whom he left numerous issue.
[Lodge's Irish Peerage, 1789, vi. 18–25; Indictment of John Price, with an account of the seizing and condemnation of Sir Thomas Southwell, July 1689; Luttrell's Brief Hist. Relation, vols. i. iii. and iv.; Lewis's Topographical Hist. of Ireland, s.v. ‘Rathkeale;’ Addit. MSS. 28888 f. 310, and 28889 f. 65. For William Southwell see Dalton's English Army Lists, iii. 325; Marlborough's Despatches, ed. Murray, i. 211, ii. 426; Boyer's Anne, 1735, p. 293; Parnell's War of Succession in Spain, pp. 128–36; Records of the Sixth Foot, p. 108; Targe's Hist. de l'Avènement de la Maison de Bourbon, iv. 80, 89.]
SOWERBY, GEORGE BRETTINGHAM the elder (1788–1854), conchologist and artist, was second son of James Sowerby [q. v.] and brother of James de Carle Sowerby [q. v.], and was born in Lambeth on 12 Aug. 1788. George was educated at home under private tutors, and afterwards assisted his father in the production of illustrated works on natural history. On the latter's death in 1822, he carried on certain of these, and, besides initiating others, dealt in shells and natural history objects, his place of business being first in King Street, Covent Garden, from which he removed to Regent Street, and finally to Great Russell Street. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society on 5 March 1811. He died at Hanley Road, Hornsey, on 26 July 1854. By his wife Elizabeth, second daughter of Nicholas and Mary Meredith, whom he married on 16 April 1811, he had issue George Brettingham and Henry (see below).
Sowerby's early work was carried out in intimate association with his father and elder
