US Congressman. Elected as a Democrat to represent New York's 12th District in the Forty-ninth Congress, he served from 1885 until his death in office. A native of Ireland, Dowdney was brought to New York City by his widowed mother in 1853 and was initially trained as a plumber. During the Civil War he joined the Union Army as a Captain in the 132nd Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry, and served in Virginia and North Carolina (1862 to 1863). After his military service he married into a successful contracting business and was engaged in railroad construction in Upstate New York. From 1882 to 1885 Dowdney was chairman of New York City's Board of Public School Trustees, whose members persuaded him to seek election to Congress in 1884. He declined to run for reelection in 1886. Dowdney died suddenly from a stroke at 45, during a business trip to New York City. His Congressional seat was left vacant for the remaining four months of his term.

US Congressman. Elected as a Democrat to represent New York's 12th District in the Forty-ninth Congress, he served from 1885 until his death in office. A native of Ireland, Dowdney was brought to New York City by his widowed mother in 1853 and was initially trained as a plumber. During the Civil War he joined the Union Army as a Captain in the 132nd Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry, and served in Virginia and North Carolina (1862 to 1863). After his military service he married into a successful contracting business and was engaged in railroad construction in Upstate New York. From 1882 to 1885 Dowdney was chairman of New York City's Board of Public School Trustees, whose members persuaded him to seek election to Congress in 1884. He declined to run for reelection in 1886. Dowdney died suddenly from a stroke at 45, during a business trip to New York City. His Congressional seat was left vacant for the remaining four months of his term.

Bio by: Bobb Edwards