Dowdall, George

Dowdall, George archbishop of Armagh, a native of Lowth, was appointed to the see of Armagh in 1543 by Henry VIII. The pope refused to confirm the nomination, but Dowdall, nevertheless, retained the see. He was a zealous papist, and introduced the Jesuits into Ireland. He resisted the introduction of the English Prayer-book in 1551, and the viceroy (Sir James Crafts) summoned him to a conference with the bishop of Meath. Their curious colloquy on points of faith is given in Hook, Ecclesiastes Biography, 4:493 sq. Dowdall was deprived of his primacy, which was given to Browne, archbishop of Dublin (q.v.). He fled to the Continent, but was restored to his see by queen Mary in 1553, and labored earnestly to re-establish popery. He died in London in 1558. — Mant, History of the Church of Ireland; Hook, Ecclesiastes Biography, 1.c.; Rose, New Biog. Diet. s.v.