John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale

File:1stViscountLonsdale.jpg

The 1st Viscount Lonsdale.

John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale, PC, FRS (25 April 1655 – 10 July 1700), known as Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet, from 1675 to 1696, was an English politician.

He was born at Hackthorpe Hall, Lowther, Westmorland, the son of Colonel John Lowther of Lowther and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Bellingham, Bart, of Hilsington, Westmoreland. He was educated at Kendal Grammar School and Sedbergh School before admission to Queen's College, Oxford (matriculated 1670). He was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1671 and called to the Bar in 1677.

On 3 December 1674, he married Lady Katherine Thynne (d. bef. 1713), daughter of Sir Henry Frederick Thynne, 1st Baronet. They had children:

• Richard Lowther, 2nd Viscount Lonsdale (d. 1713)
• Henry Lowther, 3rd Viscount Lonsdale (d. 1751)
• Hon. Mary Lowther (c.1676 – 16 April 1706), married in February 1692 Sir John Wentworth, 1st Bt., of North Elmsall.
• Hon. Elizabeth Lowther, married on 6 August 1695 Sir William Ramsden, 2nd Baronet
• Hon. Margaret Lowther (d. 15 September 1728), married on 20 April 1706 Sir Joseph Pennington, 2nd Baronet
• Hon. Barbara Lowther (d. 1716), married c.1703 Thomas Howard of Corby (d. 1740)
• Hon. Anthony Lowther (d. 1741)
• Hon. Jane Lowther (d. 1752), unmarried

Prior to his creation as a viscount in 1696 John had succeeded his grandfather, another Sir John Lowther (1605–1675), as a baronet, and was twice member of parliament for Westmorland between 1677 and 1696. In 1688 he was serviceable in securing Cumberland and Westmorland for King William III, and was appointed to the Privy Council in 1689. In 1690 he was first lord of the treasury, and he was Lord Privy Seal from March 1699 until his death. He was badly injured in a duel in 1691.

On 20 December 1699, he was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society.His candidacy citation noted that he was "A Gentleman who is well acquainted with many of the works of Nature and Art, & who hath lately obliged the Society with Some Curious Experiments relating to the damps of Coal Mines",

He died at Lowther in 1700 and was buried in Lowther churchyard.

Lonsdale wrote Memoirs of the Reign of James II, which were printed in 1808 and again in 1857. His family became extinct when his son Henry, the 3rd viscount (1694–1751), died unmarried in March 1751.

References

• Lowther pedigree 2
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

Parliament of England
Preceded by Sir Philip Musgrave Sir Thomas Strickland	Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1677–1679 With: Sir Philip Musgrave 1677–1678 Alan Bellingham 1678–1679	Succeeded by Alan Bellingham Christopher Philipson
Preceded by Alan Bellingham Christopher Philipson	Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1681–1696 With: Alan Bellingham 1681–1689 Henry Wharton 1689 Goodwin Wharton 1689–1690 Sir Christopher Musgrave 1690–1695 Sir Richard Sandford 1695–1696	Succeeded by Sir Richard Sandford William Fleming
Political offices
Preceded by James Porter	Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 1689–1694	Succeeded by Peregrine Bertie
Preceded by The Earl of Monmouth	First Lord of the Treasury 1690	Succeeded by The Lord Godolphin
Preceded by The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery	Lord Privy Seal 1699–1700	Succeeded by The Earl of Tankerville
Honorary titles
Preceded by Sir Philip Musgrave, Bt	Custos Rotulorum of Westmorland 1678–1700	Succeeded by The Lord Wharton
Preceded by The Earl of Carlisle	Vice-Admiral of Cumberland and Westmorland 1686–1700	Vacant Title next held by Sir Richard Musgrave, Bt
Preceded by The Viscount Preston	Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland 1689–1694	Succeeded by The Earl of Carlisle
Preceded by The Earl of Thanet	Custos Rotulorum of Cumberland 1689–1700
Peerage of England
New creation	Viscount Lonsdale 1696–1700	Succeeded by Richard Lowther
Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by John Lowther	Baronet (of Lowther) 1675–1700	Succeeded by Richard Lowther