william downes, 1st baron downes pc (1751 – 3 march 1826) was one of the leading irish judges of his time, who held office as lord chief justice of ireland. he was born in donnybrook, co. dublin, the third and only surviving son of six children of robert downes of donnybrook castle, m.p. for the co. kildare, by elizabeth, daughter of thomas twigge of donnybrook. he was educated at trinity college, dublin, and was called to the irish bar in 1776. he entered parliament in 1790 as member for donegal, and was made a judge of the court of common pleas in 1792. in 1798 he was transferred to the court of king's bench, and in 1803 he succeeded lord kilwarden as lord chief justice of ireland. he was created a peer in 1822. he died in 1826.
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