John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount Lonsdale
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Portrait of Viscount Lonsdale by Hyacinthe Rigaud
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| Lord Privy Seal | |
| In office 1699–1700 |
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| Preceded by | The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Tankerville |
| Member of Parliament for Westmorland | |
| In office 1681–1696 Serving with Alan Bellingham, Henry Wharton, Goodwin Wharton, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Richard Sandford
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| Preceded by | Alan Bellingham Christopher Philipson |
| Succeeded by | Sir Richard Sandford William Fleming |
| In office 1677–1679 Serving with Sir Philip Musgrave, Alan Bellingham
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| Preceded by | Sir Philip Musgrave Sir Thomas Strickland |
| Succeeded by | Alan Bellingham Christopher Philipson |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | |
| In office 1689–1694 |
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| Preceded by | James Porter |
| Succeeded by | Peregrine Bertie |
| First Lord of the Treasury | |
| In office March 1690 – November 1690 |
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| Preceded by | The Earl of Monmouth |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Godolphin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Lowther
25 April 1655 Hackthorpe Hall, Lowther, Westmorland |
| Died | 10 July 1700 (aged 45) Lowther, Westmorland |
| Spouse |
Lady Katherine Thynne
(m. 1674) |
| Relations | Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet (grandfather) Sir Henry Bellingham, 1st Baronet (grandfather) |
| Parents | John Lowther Elizabeth Bellingham |
| Education | Sedbergh School |
| Alma mater | Queen's College, Oxford |
John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale (born April 25, 1655 – died July 10, 1700) was an important English politician. He was also known as Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet, before he was given the title of Viscount in 1696. A Viscount is a noble title, ranking below an Earl and above a Baron. He was a member of the Privy Council of England, a group of advisors to the monarch, and a Fellow of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.
Early Life and Education
John Lowther was born at Hackthorpe Hall, in a place called Lowther, Westmorland, in England. His father was Colonel John Lowther, and his mother was Elizabeth Bellingham. His family had a long history in the area.
He went to Sedbergh School when he was younger. Later, he studied at Queen's College, Oxford, which is a famous university. After that, he studied law at the Inner Temple in London and became a lawyer in 1677.
Political Career
John Lowther became a baronet (a special title passed down in families) after his grandfather passed away. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Westmorland twice, serving from 1677 to 1696. A Member of Parliament is someone elected to represent people in the country's government.
In 1688, he played a key role in supporting King William III during a time of big political change. Because of his help, he was made a member of the Privy Council of England in 1689. This meant he was an important advisor to the King.
He held several high-ranking positions in the government:
- In 1690, he became the First Lord of the Treasury. This was a very important job, like being in charge of the country's money.
- From March 1699 until his death, he served as the Lord Privy Seal. This role involved looking after the King's personal seal, which was used to approve important documents.
John Lowther also wrote a short book about the events that led to King William III coming to power. It was called Memoirs of the Reign of James II and was published after his death.
Family Life
In 1674, John Lowther married Lady Katherine Thynne. Together, they had several children:
- Richard Lowther, 2nd Viscount Lonsdale (1692–1713)
- Henry Lowther, 3rd Viscount Lonsdale (1694–1751)
- Hon. Mary Lowther (died 1706)
- Hon. Elizabeth Lowther
- Hon. Margaret Lowther (died 1728)
- Hon. Barbara Lowther (died 1716)
- Hon. Anthony Lowther (died 1741)
- Hon. Jane Lowther (died 1752)
John Lowther passed away on July 10, 1700, at Lowther. He was buried in the local churchyard. After his death, his wife, Katherine, continued to be an influential figure in the family's political life.
His family line, the Lowther Viscounts, ended when his son Henry, the 3rd Viscount, died without marrying in 1751. The family titles and lands then went to his cousin, James Lowther.
