Sir Henry Dowcra

Sir Henry Dowcra landing at London/Derry 1600

Stained glass window from the Guildhall, London/Derry. Sir Henry Dowcra is shown stepping ashore from a small boat, having been rowed across from the large ship in the background. He is being greeted by an official, who is assisting him onto the shore. Dowcra, who became Governor of the city, was an English military commander who played a large part in the planning and development of London/Derry during the Ulster Plantation. He also was granted 2,000 acres of lands around Lifford, County Donegal.

With the permission of John McCavitt

Sir Henry Dowcra landing at London/Derry 1600
With the permission of John McCavitt

Sir Henry Dowcra landing at London/Derry 1600

Stained glass window from the Guildhall, London/Derry. Sir Henry Dowcra is shown stepping ashore from a small boat, having been rowed across from the large ship in the background. He is being greeted by an official, who is assisting him onto the shore. Dowcra, who became Governor of the city, was an English military commander who played a large part in the planning and development of London/Derry during the Ulster Plantation. He also was granted 2,000 acres of lands around Lifford, County Donegal.

With the permission of John McCavitt

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Sir Henry Dowcra (1564-1631) British commander at Derry, came to Ulster in 1600, landing with an army at Lough Foyle with the task of crushing the native Irish rebellion.

He occupied Derry without opposition, and formed alliances with Niall Garbh O'Donnell, a cousin of Red Hugh. He took part in the attack on the O'Donnell strongholds in Lifford and Ballyshannon, while taking Inishowen in a bloody rampage across the peninsula. King James appointed him Governor of Derry, and issued a charter for the new city:

"The towne or borough of Derrie is, by reason of the natural seat and situation thereof, a place very convenient to be made both a town of war and a town of merchandise - the king did give, grant and confirm - forever a free, entire, and perfect city and county of itself, to be called the city and county of Derry - Sir Henry to be provost for life, as fully as the lord mayor of London."

Opportunities in Ireland saw Dowcra's rise from army captain to knighted landowner. He was granted 2,000 acres of land near Lifford in the Ulster plantation was appointed Treasurer of War in Ireland in 1616, and made a member of the Privy Council. He became Baron Dowcra in 1621.