Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet

George Downing ( * ca 1623, † 1684) was an English soldier, politician and diplomat.

Life

George Downing was born in Dublin, Ireland and lived in New England, where he left Harvard University as a graduate whose second later. After his return to Europe in 1645, he first served in Oliver Cromwell's army in Scotland. Through the patronage of Cromwell and his brother Charles Howard, later Earl of Carlisle, he gained in the wake rapidly political influence, was once a member of parliament to those which suggested Cromwell to accept the kingship.

During the restoration of the Stuart monarchy he retained his position as Teller of the Receipt in the Exchequer (English Exchequer ) which he has been awarded since 1656 had held, as well as his clothed since 1657 posts as ambassador to Holland and also got the Barony. As a financial and trade expert he created by reforms in the area of ​​public finances are important prerequisites for the later establishment of the Bank of England in the 90s of the 17th century.

George Downing died in July 1684 in Cambridgeshire, England ..

The Downing Street, which now houses the seat of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (English Chancellor of the Exchequer ) is located, is named after him.

Samuel Pepys, who became the chronicler of the Restoration period through his records and from 1656 to 1660 was in Downings services mentioned him in numerous places in his famous diary.

Swell

• Samuel Pepys: The Diaries 1660-1669. Edited by Gerd Arntz Haffmans and Heiko, trans. by Georg et al Deggerich 9 volumes and a companion. Haffmans Verlag in Two Thousand One, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-942048-18-7.