Sir Jacob Downing, 4th Baronet

[3] In the 1760s, Downing had been the sole patron of Dunwich, but in theory he also was considered to have only influence, rather than the absolute power to dictate the choice of the Members.

Downing was able to occupy one seat himself and sell the choice of the other member to the Duke of Newcastle (then Prime Minister) for £1,000; it is not recorded whether he needed to share some of this largesse with his co-operative voters.

Downing devoted himself to restoring his late cousin's lands, which were left in his hands in a poor state.

Near the end of his life, Sir George Downing had failed to find tenants for vacant farms, and was losing £1,500 a year (equivalent to £300,650 in 2023) through his mismanagement.

One of his first acts was to commission a series of maps by Joseph Cole, showing the different farms which made up the estate.

[1] However, Jacob instead left the estates to his widow, which led to 40 years of litigation between Lady Margaret and the university.