Sir James O'Dowd
1 portrait of Sir James O'Dowd
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Sir James O'Dowd
by Harry Furniss
pen and ink, late 19th century
15 1/4 in. x 12 1/2 in. (387 mm x 318 mm)
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D11489
Artistback to top
- Harry Furniss (1854-1925), Caricaturist. Artist or producer associated with 435 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
Events of 1870back to top
Current affairs
William Edward Forster's Education Act is passed, making provisions for education for all under-13s. It demonstrated the balance in Gladstone's first ministry between progressive reform and conservativism by spreading literacy, whilst maintaining the status of Church schools.The Married Women's Property Act gives wives rights over their own earnings.
Art and science
The Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's fantasy-overture Romeo and Juliet, based on Shakespeare's play and written with the aid of composer Mily Balakirev, debuts in Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubenstein.W. G. Grace becomes cricket captain of Gloucestershire, marking the start of a successful decade for the club in which they won three 'Champion County' titles.
International
Isaac Butt, an Irish MP at Westminster, forms the Home Rule Association.The Franco-Prussian war breaks out between France and a coalition of German states led by Prussia. Provoked by the candidacy of German Prince Leopold Hohenzollen-Sigmaringen for the Spanish throne, France declared war in July after Bismark published the deliberately provocative Ems telegraph, in which the French were represented in an offensive light on the issue.
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Alan Keith O'Dowd
17 March 2019, 23:13
This is my Great Great Grandfather
Sir James Cornelius O'Dowd
O'Dowd, James Cornelius, C.B. 1885,
Deputy Judge advocate-general 1869 and army purchase commissioner 1871
James Cornelius O’Dowd was born on 1 January 1829, the eldest son of the barrister J. K. O’Dowd. After being educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he became a barrister, Middle Temple 1859, and was Deputy Judge Advocate-General of the Army 1869-1899. He held various other military judicial positions, and was Professor of Law at the Staff College from 1896. He also was part-proprietor and co-editor with Sir William Howard Russell of the “Army and Navy Gazette”, and wrote a number works on military legal issues. O’ Dowd was knighted in 1900. Sir James became a member of the Garrick Club in 1854 and died on 15 December 1903.
As far as I am aware he was married but was divorced when he died, as his son (my great grandfather) James Redgrave O'Dowd had 2 sisters who were sent to Europe to study.
James Redgrave O'Dowd died in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, England in 1927 and his father's name Sir James C O'Dowd is engraved in the headstone.
Rhona Smith
18 March 2018, 11:58
I think this is a great grand uncle of mine. He was a Deputy Judge Advocate General of the British Army 1869/1899
Born 1829 Ireland.
Never married.
Alison Gibson
13 January 2021, 13:32
Reference is made to James O'Dowd in Thackerays Vanity Fair and his second wife. His first wife died. I am his great great grand daughter Alison