Gerard Lowther (judge) facts for kids

Sir Gerard Lowther (1589–1660), also known as Gerald Lowther, was an important member of the famous Lowther family from Westmorland, England. He had a very successful career as a judge in Ireland, eventually becoming the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. This was a very high position in the legal system. Some people who didn't like him said he only got ahead by being unfair, but he was still a powerful figure in his time.

Who Was Gerard Lowther?

Gerard Lowther was born in Westmorland, England. He was definitely part of the powerful Lowther family, who owned a lot of land. However, his exact connection to the family is a bit unclear. Two of his uncles, Sir Gerard Lowther senior (who died in 1624) and Sir Lancelot Lowther, were also judges in Ireland. They both said he was their nephew.

Many people believe he was the son of their oldest brother, Sir Christopher Lowther (1557–1617). If this is true, he was not the same person as Christopher's other son, also named Gerald. That other Gerald was a soldier who fought for Poland against the Ottoman Empire. Sir Christopher and his brothers were the sons of Sir Richard Lowther (1532-1607) and Frances Middleton. Sir Richard was known for being loyal to the English Crown, but he did support Mary Queen of Scots for a while. Luckily, he didn't get into serious trouble for it.

How Did Gerard Lowther Start His Career?

Gerard Lowther began his education at Queen's College, Oxford in 1605. He then joined Gray's Inn in 1608, which was a place where lawyers were trained. He became a lawyer in England in 1616. Because he had relatives who were judges in Ireland, he was able to become a lawyer there just three years later.

The Lowther family supported a very powerful Irish leader called Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. This Earl was one of the most important people in Ireland at that time. Gerard Lowther's connection to the Earl became even stronger in 1621 when he married Anne Parsons. Anne was the daughter of Sir Lawrence Parsons, who was the Earl's legal advisor.

Gerard took over his father-in-law's role as the Earl's legal advisor. In 1621, he became the Attorney-General for Munster, which was a legal job in a region of Ireland. In 1628, he became a judge, known as a Baron, in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). He was made a knight in 1631, which meant he was called "Sir Gerard."

He also became a very wealthy landowner, with large properties in County Wexford and County Fermanagh. In 1624, he inherited a lot of property from his uncle, also named Sir Gerard, who had made a fortune but had no children. Sir Gerard Lowther lived mostly in Oxmantown, near Dublin. He collected a lot of money as well as land. He was even able to lend James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, a very important person, £1000. This was a huge amount of money in the 1600s!

In 1633, the Chief Justice of Common Pleas, Dominick Sarsfield, 1st Viscount Sarsfield, was removed from his job because of corruption. It is said that the Earl of Cork paid a thousand pounds to help Lowther get this important position.

Later, Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (the King's main representative), took full control of the Irish government. Even though the Earl of Cork and Strafford became enemies, Lowther became one of Strafford's main helpers. He largely stopped working closely with the Earl of Cork. In 1640, he became the Attorney-General for the Irish Court of Wards, while still keeping his job as Chief Justice.

Supporting Strafford Against Lord Chancellor Loftus

There was a long fight for power between Strafford and Adam Loftus, 1st Viscount Loftus, who was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Lowther and the other Chief Justices were members of the Privy Council of Ireland, which was a group of advisors to the King. They fully supported Strafford in this fight. Because of their support, Loftus was removed from his job and put in prison.

When Loftus was released, he went to London to ask King Charles I to give him his job back. Lowther went with Strafford to London to argue against Loftus. He did such a good job that Strafford told him, I shall be beholden to you as long as I live, meaning he would be grateful forever.

What Happened During the Civil War?

In May 1641, Strafford was found guilty of treason and executed. Lowther was known as one of Strafford's strongest supporters. Because of this, the Irish Parliament accused Lowther and another important official, Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Bolton, of wrongdoing. They were both removed from the Privy Council.

What Was Sir Gerard Lowther Like?

Sir Gerard Lowther was a very talented lawyer and a clever politician who could adapt to new situations. However, many historians don't have good things to say about him. One historian called him "a most unprincipled man," meaning he didn't follow good moral rules. Another said he gained a lot of land by being "unprincipled" and clever during difficult times.

On the other hand, a historian named Wedgwood said that while he might have gotten his high-ranking jobs because of powerful friends and a willingness to bend the rules, he was also very good at law and had a strong personality.

See also

• Lowther Baronets
• Richard Lowther (1532-1608)