This is a list of lords lieutenants of County Down.
There were lieutenants of counties in Ireland until the reign of James II, when they were renamed governors. The office of Lord Lieutenant was recreated on 23 August 1831.
Contents
Governors
Bryan Magennis, 5th Viscount Iveagh 1689–1691 (Jacobite)
Trevor Hill, 1st Viscount Hillsborough 1729–
Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire –1793
Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry 1793–1821
James Blackwood, 2nd Baron Dufferin and Claneboye: –1831
Robert Ward: 1805–1831
Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry: –1831
Lord Lieutenants
Arthur Hill, 3rd Marquess of Downshire: 7 October 1831 – 12 April 1845
Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry: 17 May 1845 – 1864
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava: 13 April 1864 – 12 February 1902, later Earl of Dufferin and Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry: 16 April 1902 – 8 February 1915
Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry: 8 September 1915 – 11 February 1949
Francis Needham, 4th Earl of Kilmorey: 2 June 1949 – 1959
Sir Roland Nugent, 1st Baronet: 10 March 1959 – 18 August 1962
John Meade, 6th Earl of Clanwilliam: 25 September 1962 – 1979
Colonel William Brann: 2 October 1979 – 1990
Colonel William Brownlow: 17 August 1990 – 1996
Sir William Joseph Hall: 10 October 1996 – 1 August 2009
David Lindsay: 25 August 2009 – 2021
Gawn Rowan-Hamilton: 12 May 2021 – present
Deputy lieutenants
A deputy lieutenant of County Down is commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant of County Down. Deputy lieutenants support the work of the lord-lieutenant. There can be several deputy lieutenants at any time, depending on the population of the county. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the lord-lieutenant, but they usually retire at age 75.
21st Century
19 May 2010: John Witchell
2 September 2016: Peter Conway
2 September 2016: Neil McClure