Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet, of Lowther
Encyclopedia
Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet (20 February 1605 – 30 November 1675) was an English
landowner, and politician who sat in the House of Commons
for Westmorland
in 1628 and in 1660. Member of an old Northern family, he took no great part in the English Civil War
s.
Lowther was the eldest son of Sir John Lowther of Lowther and his wife Eleanor Fleming, daughter of Wiliam Fleming of Rydal. He attended the Inner Temple
in 1621 and was called to the bar in 1630.
In 1628, Lowther was elected Member of Parliament
for Westmorland
, where he sat alongside his father. In 1636, he became recorder
of Kendal
, and was created a baronet
in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia around 1638. He stood for election to both Parliaments of 1640, but was defeated on each occasion by Sir Philip Musgrave.
Lowther, a commissioner of array for Cumberland
and Westmorland
in 1642, was commissioned a colonel by the Royalists
during the Civil War
and was Governor of Brougham Castle
until 1644. However, he claimed not to have borne arms against the Parliamentarians
, and took the Covenant
when their forces approached. He was recommended to continue as a justice of the peace
for Westmorland (having sat on the bench since 1641) and was fined
on relatively favorable terms. He did not continue as a justice or in the recordership of Kendal after 1648, during the Interregnum
.
After the Restoration, he came in for a variety of minor offices in the North, appearing in the commissions of the peace for Cumberland, Westmorland, and the North Riding of Yorkshire
and receiving a deputy lieutenancy
in Cumberland. From 1661 to 1662 he was High Sheriff
of that county. He was again returned in 1660 to represent Westmorland in the Convention Parliament, he and Sir Thomas Wharton defeating Thomas Burton
. Moderately active during the Parliament, his one recorded speech was to oppose Charles Howard
's bill for curbing the moss troopers, preferring older methods of keeping peace on the border. He did not again stand for Parliament, but returned to his activities in the North, where he actively expanded his estates (often at the expense of his neighbors) and prosecuted Quakers.
Lowther married twice. By his first marriage to Mary Fletcher, he had ten children:
By his second marriage to Elizabeth Hare, he had four children:
His eldest son John predeceased him, and he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his grandson. He left an estate worth about £80,000.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
landowner, and politician who sat in the House of Commons
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
for Westmorland
Westmorland (UK Parliament constituency)
Westmorland was a constituency covering the county of Westmorland in the North of England, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The constituency had two separate periods of existence....
in 1628 and in 1660. Member of an old Northern family, he took no great part in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
s.
Lowther was the eldest son of Sir John Lowther of Lowther and his wife Eleanor Fleming, daughter of Wiliam Fleming of Rydal. He attended the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1621 and was called to the bar in 1630.
In 1628, Lowther was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Westmorland
Westmorland (UK Parliament constituency)
Westmorland was a constituency covering the county of Westmorland in the North of England, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The constituency had two separate periods of existence....
, where he sat alongside his father. In 1636, he became recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
, and was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia around 1638. He stood for election to both Parliaments of 1640, but was defeated on each occasion by Sir Philip Musgrave.
Lowther, a commissioner of array for Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
and Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
in 1642, was commissioned a colonel by the Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
during the Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
and was Governor of Brougham Castle
Brougham Castle
Brougham Castle is a medieval building about south-east of Penrith, Cumbria, England. It is a Scheduled Monument and open to the public. Founded by Robert de Vieuxpont in the early 13th century on the site of a Roman fort, it sits near the confluence of the rivers Eamont and Lowther...
until 1644. However, he claimed not to have borne arms against the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
, and took the Covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
when their forces approached. He was recommended to continue as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Westmorland (having sat on the bench since 1641) and was fined
Committee for Compounding with Delinquents
In 1643, near the start of the English Civil War, Parliament set up two committees the Sequestration Committee which confiscated the estates of the Royalists who fought against Parliament, and the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents which allowed Royalists whose estates had been...
on relatively favorable terms. He did not continue as a justice or in the recordership of Kendal after 1648, during the Interregnum
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
.
After the Restoration, he came in for a variety of minor offices in the North, appearing in the commissions of the peace for Cumberland, Westmorland, and the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
and receiving a deputy lieutenancy
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
in Cumberland. From 1661 to 1662 he was High Sheriff
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
of that county. He was again returned in 1660 to represent Westmorland in the Convention Parliament, he and Sir Thomas Wharton defeating Thomas Burton
Thomas Burton (politician)
Thomas Burton , of Brampton Hall, Westmorland, was MP for Westmorland from 1656 to 1659, and a parliamentary diarist.-Life:He was a justice of the peace for Westmorland. He was returned to parliament as member for the county on 20 August 1656...
. Moderately active during the Parliament, his one recorded speech was to oppose Charles Howard
Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle
Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle was an English politician and military leader.The first in the Howard line of earls, he was the son and heir of Sir William Howard, of Naworth in Cumberland, by Mary, daughter of William, Lord Eure, and great-grandson of Lord William Howard, "Belted Will" , the...
's bill for curbing the moss troopers, preferring older methods of keeping peace on the border. He did not again stand for Parliament, but returned to his activities in the North, where he actively expanded his estates (often at the expense of his neighbors) and prosecuted Quakers.
Lowther married twice. By his first marriage to Mary Fletcher, he had ten children:
- John LowtherJohn Lowther (d. 1668)Colonel Sir John Lowther was an English landowner, at Hackthorpe, the eldest son and heir of Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet and Mary Fletcher.He first married, in 1665, Elizabeth Bellingham, daughter of Sir Henry Bellingham, 1st Baronet...
(c. 1628–1668) - Richard LowtherRichard LowtherRichard Lowther , English landowner at Maulds Meaburn, was the second son of Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet and Mary Fletcher.He received the estate at Maulds Meaburn from his father, and was Member of Parliament for Appleby from 1689 to 1690....
(d. 1703), married Barbara Prickett and had issue - Eleanor Lowther, married Sir Christopher Wandesford, 1st Baronet
- Barbara Lowther, married John Belby
- Mary Lowther, married Edward Trotter
- Frances Lowther, married Sir Thomas Pennyman, 2nd Baronet
- Christopher Lowther
- Hugh Lowther
- Anne Lowther
- Mary Lowther
By his second marriage to Elizabeth Hare, he had four children:
- Ralph Lowther (b. 3 July 1655), married Mary Lawson and had issue
- William Lowther (b. 27 April 1659, married Elizabeth Rawlinson
- Robert Lowther (b. 17 February 1662), unmarried
- Margaret Lowther (b. 27 April 1650), married Sir John Aubrey, 2nd BaronetSir John Aubrey, 2nd BaronetSir John Aubrey, 2nd Baronet was an English politician.He was the only surviving son of Sir John Aubrey, 1st Baronet and his wife Mary South, daughter of Sir Richard South. Aubrey matriculated from Jesus College, Oxford in 1668 and was called to the bar by the Middle Temple in 1672...
His eldest son John predeceased him, and he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his grandson. He left an estate worth about £80,000.