LOWTHER, John (1759-1844), of Swillington, Yorks.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1780 - Mar. 1786
10 Apr. - 31 May 1786
13 June 1786 - 1790
1796 - 1831

Family and Education

b. 1 Apr. 1759, 2nd s. of Rev. Sir William Lowther, 1st Bt., by Anne, da. of Rev. Charles Zouch of Sandal, Yorks.; bro. of William Lowthereduc. Westminster 1771-3; Trinity, Camb. 1776.  m. 4 Sept. 1790, Lady Elizabeth Fane, da. of John, 9th Earl of Westmorland, 3s. 1da.  cr. Bt. 3 Nov. 1824.

Offices Held

Biography

In Parliament Lowther followed his cousin Sir James Lowther, 5th Bt.; voted regularly with Opposition till the fall of North; for Shelburne’s peace preliminaries, 18 Feb. 1783, and against Fox’s East India bill, 27 Nov. 1783. He supported Pitt’s Administration at first, but at Sir James’s orders voted with Opposition over the Regency, 1788-9. There is no record of his having spoken in the House.

In 1784 he unsuccessfully contested Lancaster on Sir James’s interest, and in 1786 vacated his seat at Cockermouth to stand again at a by-election. He was defeated, but soon afterwards a vacancy occurring at Carlisle, he was once more put forward by Sir James, returned, but unseated on petition. A seat was then provided for him at Haslemere. In spite of these services, in 1790 Lowther, like his elder brother, was dropped by Sir James, for reasons which have not been ascertained.

Lowther died 19 Mar. 1844.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes