Colonel James Lowther (23 February 1753 – 1837) was a British soldier and Tory politician.
He was the second son of Rev. Henry Lowther, rector of Aikton, and Dorothy Tatham. Rev. Henry was the great-grandson of Rev. Lancelot Lowther, rector of Long Marston and son of Sir Christopher Lowther (1557–1617). Rev. Lancelot founded the cadet branch of Lowther of Colby Leathes, the heads of which family were largely clerics with livings in the gift of the more senior branches of the Lowther family.
James, however, took a more active role in the service of his fourth cousin, James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale. As one of "Lord Lonsdale's Ninepins", he was Member of Parliament for Westmorland from 1775 until 1812, and then for Appleby from 1812 until 1818. He was also returned for Haslemere in 1790, but preferred to continue to sit for Westmorland. In addition to his political role, Lowther served as second to Lord Lonsdale in two notable duels, the first in June 1792 with an officer of the Life Guards, and the second in 1796 with Sir Frederick Vane.
Lowther was for some time the commander of the Royal Cumberland Militia. In 1798, he was transferred to command the Royal Westmorland Militia, and was commissioned a colonel in the regular Army when that regiment was embodied.
He died in Caen, Normandy in the summer of 1837.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir James Lowther, Bt Sir Michael le Fleming, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1775–1801 With: Sir Michael le Fleming, Bt 1775–1801 |
Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Preceded by John Baynes-Garforth John Lowther |
Member of Parliament for Haslemere 1790 With: William Gerard Hamilton |
Succeeded by William Gerard Hamilton Richard Penn |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain |
Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1801–1812 With: Sir Michael le Fleming, Bt 1801–1806 The Lord Muncaster 1806–1812 |
Succeeded by The Lord Muncaster Henry Cecil Lowther |
| Preceded by James Ramsay Cuthbert Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne |
Member of Parliament for Appleby 1812–1818 With: John Courtenay 1812 George Tierney 1812–1818 |
Succeeded by George Fludyer Lucius Concannon |