McDowell, Robert Brendan (R. B.)

by Jacqueline Hill

McDowell, Robert Brendan (R. B.) (1913–2011), historian, was born on 14 September 1913 at Carrig, Bawnmore Road, Belfast, elder son of Robert McDowell, employed at Musgrave, a Belfast tea firm, and his wife Violet (née Ferris), whose family were wine and spirit merchants in Derry city. The McDowells were originally from Ayrshire, but R. B.'s father was born in Co. Tipperary (close to Birr in King's Co. (Offaly)), where his own father was a tenant farmer. It is suggested that the 'Brendan' in R. B.'s name came from St Brendan, who had strong Birr connections. The McDowells were presbyterian, the Ferrises, anglican; R. B.'s own religious views would, he noted, evolve into 'a vague but compelling faith compounded of anglicanism and agnosticism' (McDowell, 68). McDowell's parents, who married in 1911, were comfortably off. R. B.'s only sibling, Laurence Patrick, served with RAF Coastal Command during the second world war, and was killed on 12 July 1941 when his aircraft was shot down near the Isles of Scilly.

The whole family, and particularly R. B., suffered from the flu epidemic of 1918–19. He began attending aged 11 the Royal Belfast Academical Institution ('Inst'), where he was the youngest of a future generation of outstanding historians, including T. W. Moody (qv), D. B. Quinn (qv) and J. C. Beckett (qv). Owing to poor eyesight, he was no good at games, but had ability, and formed friendships easily throughout his life. His main traits were established early. At Inst, he belonged to the school literary society and the debating society. Although entirely comfortable with being regarded as Irish, he had a stronger emotional attachment to the old United Kingdom and, by extension, its empire. Such values were encouraged by annual visits to London from the mid 1920s. But the key element in his life was a love of reading. Beside Inst's library, he frequently visited the Linen Hall Library, developing a zest for detective fiction and historical novels. After a brief spell of book-buying, he became reluctant to acquire possessions, preferring instead to be within easy reach of a well-stocked library.

Lacking any business flair, in 1932 he embarked on an honours history BA (moderatorship) in TCD. He joined the College Historical Society (the 'Hist'), and became an officer. As an undergraduate, he attempted to become acquainted with the Irish Free State and its values, but was booed for wearing a poppy on Armistice Day, and remained a life-long unionist. Anxious to keep studying history, he took a history grind in his final year, was elected to a foundation scholarship in June 1936, and obtained a strong first-class degree. He promptly registered for a Ph.D. in history; the scholarship would largely cover his expenses (and his father continued to top up his bank account). Prior interest in late eighteenth-century British and Irish history, and in the impact of ideas on political and social life, determined the topic. Constantia Maxwell (qv) supervised the thesis. Visits to London took in the Public Record Office and (the start of a long association) the Institute of Historical Research. He was also introduced to club life in London. The thesis was completed in only twenty-one months, and the Ph.D. awarded in summer 1938. On the outbreak of war, he intended to join up, but was medically unfit. He returned to Trinity, where Professor Edmund Curtis (qv) recruited him as co-editor to produce a book of Irish historical documents, McDowell contributing some four-fifths of the total.

Curtis's death in 1943 left vacant a history post in Trinity. Both Irish historical documents, 1172–1922 (1943) and McDowell's Ph.D. thesis (Irish public opinion, 1750–1800 (1944)) were near publication. But UCD had recently incurred criticism for appointing a professor of education who knew no Irish, and Curtis was one of the few Trinity academics who knew Irish. To R. B.'s lack of Irish was added an impression (which he himself conceded) that he probably came across to his seniors as 'an excitable young man, untidy and dishevelled [he invariably wore an overcoat, pork-pie hat and scarf, even in summer] … talking sometimes with reckless abandon, readily challenging conventional opinion' (McDowell, 104). In the event, E. R. R. Green (qv) (who knew Irish) was appointed. For the remainder of the war, McDowell taught as a history master at Radley College, Oxfordshire, and found the challenge of controlling the school certificate class useful experience for a future junior dean of Trinity. There were also invitations to give papers at the nearby university. After VE Day, he returned to Ireland. There was once again a vacancy for a historian in Trinity: Green had resigned his lectureship, and on 1 October 1945 McDowell was appointed.

This appointment would be decisive for his future. Dublin's proximity to Belfast, where his parents remained; the congeniality of life in Trinity; the excellent libraries; and the nearby club life (he belonged to the University Club), would all outweigh thoughts of a permanent move elsewhere. As for possible marriage, R. B. noted that 'one woman to whom I proposed expressed the opinion that my … intense concentration on my own interests would make me a self-absorbed and difficult partner' (McDowell, 116). It seems that he had no life partners (of either gender), despite his enormously affable disposition and rich social life. In 1951, by which time he had published a dozen articles, and a second monograph was imminent, McDowell was made a TCD fellow. Given his age (not yet 40), this was an impressive achievement, as testified by Moody, his senior in the department, who noted to the external assessor that 'McDowell … constitutes a class by himself' (Bodleian, Clark papers, 184). In a letter to a diplomat in 1953, Sir Lewis Namier commented: 'I am in touch with R. B. McDowell of Trinity College, Dublin – a very good scholar and a live wire' (History of parliament archives, N-54).

Following his appointment, McDowell extended his range into broadcasting: he edited a collection of Thomas Davis lectures in 1957, was a panellist for a time on RTÉ television's Postbag, and presented a series on Irish history for UTV. He would eventually publish over a dozen books (some in collaboration with others); though some works were uneven (such as Ireland in the age of imperialism and revolution, 1760–1801 (1979)), he became known as a rigorous and judicious scholar. His first monograph, Irish public opinion, 1750–1800 (1944), is regarded as his most important work. The Irish administration, 1801–1914 (1964) attracted much praise, as did The Irish Convention, 1917–18 (1970) and Crisis and decline: the fate of the southern unionists (1997). Other works included a history of TCD (with D. A. Webb (qv)); a biography (with W. B. Stanford (qv)) of Provost John Pentland Mahaffy (qv); and histories of the Church of Ireland, and of two Dublin clubs (the Kildare Street and the University). In addition to Irish historical documents, McDowell also published other valuable source collections, including volumes viii and ix (part 1) of the Correspondence of Edmund Burke (qv) (1969–70), and (with William Todd) volume ix (parts 1 and 2) of Burke's Writings and speeches (1991). Together with Moody and C. J. Woods, he edited The writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone (3 vols., 1998, 2001, 2007). A collection of over two dozen of his articles and essays appeared in Historical essays: 1938–2001 (2003).

McDowell also played a part in administrative life in the college, notably as junior dean (1956–69), with responsibility for undergraduate discipline. Unexpectedly, he filled the role with aplomb. His presence of mind, superb memory for faces and names, and willingness to be tough but fair earned respect, while his sociability and eccentricities earned affection. He quickly became popular, even legendary. Two books of anecdotes recall this era in his life, both edited by Anne Leonard. Three separate accounts survive relating to a student encounter with R. B. on the steps of the library: a conversation followed, lasting some minutes. Having parted, R. B. called back: 'When I met you, was I going in or coming out?' (Leonard (2006), 23). Some of the anecdotes – possibly spread by R. B. himself – may have been based on stories about an eccentric nineteenth-century Trinity vice-provost, John ('Jacky') Barrett (qv).

After retiring in 1981, McDowell lived mainly in London, where he had acquired a basement flat in Kilburn. He divided his time between several clubs, the Institute of Historical Research and the London Library, and was a much sought-after dinner guest. He joined the Conservative party, having previously published a book on its history. In his 90s, he returned to reside in Trinity, and spent his final years in Glenashling Nursing Home, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, close to his second cousin Harry McDowell and his wife Joan, whose company he greatly enjoyed. He died on 28 August 2011, and was cremated after a funeral service at Mount Jerome in Dublin. His (few) papers were assigned to Trinity. His parents had left him a considerable inheritance, which he bequeathed to various individuals, clubs and charities, and to fund a history postgraduate fellowship in Trinity.

Among his other appointments at Trinity, he was reader in history (1962–7), associate professor of modern history (1967–80), and Erasmus Smyth professor of oratory (1980–84) and emeritus fellow (from 1981). He was also keeper at Marsh's Library, Dublin (1958–74). His many academic honours included LLD, D.Litt. and MRIA. The fullest list of his publications, almost all of which were on Irish history, can be found on Irish History Online, for which in its earlier manifestations as 'Writings on Irish history', published annually in Irish Historical Studies, he had been a compiler. An ink sketch by Derek Hill of McDowell leaving the Rubrics is in the TCD common room. Numerous portraits of McDowell include those by Sophie McCormick in the Graduates Memorial Building at TCD, and by Carola Peck, at Celbridge Lodge, Celbridge.