John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower

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John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower PC (10 August 1694 – 25 December 1754) was a British Tory politician, one of the first Tories to enter government in the 18th century. In 1739, he became a founding Governor of London's Foundling Hospital.

He was a son of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower and his wife Catherine Manners. His maternal grandparents were John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland and his third wife Catherine Wriothesley Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden.

He was first married to Lady Evelyn Pierrepont on 13 March 1711/1712. She was a daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull and his first wife Lady Mary Feilding. Mary was a daughter of William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh and his wife Mary King.

They were parents to eleven children:

• John Leveson-Gower (28 November 1712 – 15 July 1723).
• Gertrude Leveson-Gower (15 February 1714/1715 – 1 July 1794). She married John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
• William Leveson-Gower (17 February 1715/1716 – 4 April 1739).
• Mary Leveson-Gower (b 30 October 1717 – 30 April 1778). She married Sir Richard Wrottesley, Baronet.
• Frances Leveson-Gower 12 August 1720 – 1788). She married Lord John Philip Sackville, a younger son of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset. They were parents to John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset.
• Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford (4 August 1721 – 26 October 1803).
• Elizabeth Leveson-Gower (20 January 1723/1724 – 28 April 1784). She married John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave.
• Evelyn Leveson-Gower (26 January 1724/1725 – 14 April 1763). She married John Fitzpatrick, 1st Earl of Upper Ossory.
• Richard Leveson-Gower (30 April 1726 – 19 October 1753). He served as a Member of Parliament.
• Catherine Leveson-Gower (possibly born on 31 May 1727 and died in infancy).
• Diana Leveson-Gower (31 May 1727 – 1737).

Evelyn died on 26 June 1727 and Gower became a widower. He was secondly married to Penelope Stenhouse on 31 October 1733. She was a daughter of Sir John Stenhouse, 7th Baronet. They were parents to a daughter:

• Penelope Leveson-Gower (June, 1734 – 26 February 1742).

His second wife died on 19 August 1734. He then had his third marriage to Mary Tufton on 16 May 1736. She was a daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and widow of Anthony Grey, Earl of Harold. They were parents to two children:

• Thomas Leveson-Gower (born on 23 August 1738 but known to have died young).
• John Leveson-Gower 11 July 1740 – 28 August 1792). He married Frances Boscawen, daughter of Edward Boscawen. This son served in the Royal Navy and became an Admiral.

In 1742, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Great Britain, and on 8 July 1746, he was created Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham.

Political offices
Preceded by Lord Hervey	Lord Privy Seal 1742–1743	Succeeded by The Earl of Cholmondeley
Preceded by The Earl of Cholmondeley	Lord Privy Seal 1744–1754	Succeeded by The Duke of Marlborough
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl Ferrers	Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire 1742–1754	Succeeded by The Earl Gower
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation	Earl Gower 1746–1754	Succeeded by Granville Leveson-Gower
Peerage of England
Preceded by John Leveson-Gower	Baron Gower 1709–1754	Succeeded by Granville Leveson-Gower