George Downame was born at Chester, where his father was a bishop. He studied at Cambridge and was elected fellow of Christ College in 1585. Later he was appointed professor of logic and granted the D.D. degree. In 1616 he became bishop of Derry. Though not as well known as some of the Puritan divines, his writings were as sound as any. His A Treatise of Justification, published in 1639, was his most outstanding work. He died in 1634 after a long and faithful preaching ministry.