William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale

The Earl of Lonsdale.

William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale KG (29 December 1757 – 19 March 1844) was a British Tory politician and nobleman.

Background and education

Lowther was the son of Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet, of Little Preston and Swillington, and his wife Anne Zouch. He was educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge.[1]

Political career

Lowther was briefly Member of Parliament for Appleby in 1780, for Carlisle from 1780 to 1784 and for Cumberland from 1784 to 1790. In 1796, he was returned as Member of Parliament for Rutland, holding the seat until 1802. In that year, he inherited by special remainder the titles of Viscount Lowther and Baron Lowther from his third cousin once removed, the Earl of Lonsdale of the first creation, as well as his immense estates. He was also appointed to the northern Lord Lieutenancies of Cumberland and Westmorland. In 1807, Lowther was himself created Earl of Lonsdale and appointed a Knight of the Garter.

A coal magnate, he spent £200,000 on the Lowther estate and built a new Lowther Castle. A Tory in politics, he seems to have been tolerant and well-liked, disdaining sabbatarianism[2] and serving as patron for a number of painters and authors, including William Wordsworth.[3] Lonsdale died at York House, Twickenham in 1844. Lowther also enjoyed fox hunting, serving as Master of the Cottesmore Hunt from 1788 to 1802 and 1806 to 1842.[4]

Family

Lord Lonsdale married Lady Augusta Fane (d. 1838), daughter of John Fane, 9th Earl of Westmorland, on 12 July 1781. They had six children:[5]

References

  1. "Lowther, William (LWTR776W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. "The 1st Earl of Lonsdale at Twickenham". Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  3. "Lowther Castle Conservation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  4. "Cottesmore Hunt History". Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  5. "Lowther pedigree 2". Retrieved 2006-12-19.

External links

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Philip Honywood
George Johnstone
Member of Parliament for Appleby
with Philip Honywood

1780–1781
Succeeded by
Philip Honywood
William Pitt
Preceded by
Anthony Morris Storer
Walter Spencer Stanhope
Member of Parliament for Carlisle
with Earl of Surrey

1780–1784
Succeeded by
Earl of Surrey
Edward Norton
Preceded by
Sir Henry Fletcher, Bt
Sir James Lowther, Bt
Member of Parliament for Cumberland
with Sir Henry Fletcher, Bt

1784–1790
Succeeded by
Sir Henry Fletcher, Bt
Humphrey Senhouse
Preceded by
Gerard Noel Edwards
Lord Sherard
Member of Parliament for Rutland
with Gerard Noel Edwards

1796–1801
Succeeded by
(Union of Great Britain and Ireland)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
(Union of Great Britain and Ireland)
Member of Parliament for Rutland
with Gerard Noel Edwards

1801–1802
Succeeded by
Gerard Noel Edwards
The Lord Carbery
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Lonsdale
Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland
1802–1844
Succeeded by
The Earl of Lonsdale
Vacant
Title last held by
The Earl of Lonsdale
Vice-Admiral of Cumberland
1809–1844
Vacant
Titles of nobility
New title Earl of Lonsdale
1807–1844
Succeeded by
William Lowther
Preceded by
James Lowther
Viscount Lowther
1802–1844
Baron Lowther
(descended by acceleration)

1802–1841
Preceded by
William Lowther
Baronet
(of Little Preston)
1788–1844
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