The Downing Baronetcy, of East Hatley in the County of Cambridge, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 1 July 1663 for the Anglo-Irish soldier, statesman and diplomat Sir George Downing, after whom Downing Street in London is named. The third baronet left his estate to create Downing College, Cambridge.[1][2]

Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet

The third and fourth Baronets represented Dunwich in Parliament. The title became extinct on the latter's death in 1764.

Downing baronets, of East Hatley (1663)

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Arms

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Downing College heraldic shield

The arms of the Downing baronets—Barry of eights, argent and vert, over all a gryphon rampant or[2]—were adopted by Downing College.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Complete Baronetage: English, Irish and Scottish, 1649-1664. W. Pollard & Company, Limited. 1903. pp. 279–280.
  2. ^ a b Burke, John; Burke, Sir Bernard (1844). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland and Scotland. J. R. Smith. pp. 163–164.
  3. ^ a b c d Muskett, Joseph James (1900). Suffolk Manorial Families, Being the County Visitations and Other Pedigrees. W. Pollard. p. 99. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  4. ^ Stevens, Horace William Pettit (1899). Downing College. F.E. Robinson. p. 249. Retrieved 13 June 2017.