| The Right Honourable James Lowther PC, PC (Ire), DL, JP |
|
|---|---|
| "Jim" Lowther as caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, December 1877 |
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| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 25 February 1874 – 15 February 1878 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Preceded by | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Cadogan |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | |
| In office 15 February 1878 – 21 April 1880 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Preceded by | Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Bt |
| Succeeded by | William Edward Forster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 December 1840 Swillington, Yorkshire |
| Died | 12 September 1904 Wilton, Yorkshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
James Lowther PC, PC (Ire), DL, JP (1 December 1840 – 12 September 1904) was a British Conservative politician and sportsman.
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Born at Swillington, Yorkshire, Lowther was the younger son of Sir Charles Lowther, 3rd Baronet, of Swillington and Isabella Morehead. He was educated at Westminster School and took a BA from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1863, and a MA in 1866.[1] He was also admitted as a barrister of the Inner Temple on 17 October 1864, but never practised law.[2]
Lowther first entered Parliament in 1865, as Member of Parliament for York. His maiden speech was against the Reform Bill of 1866, the failure of which brought down the ministry of Lord Russell. He also vehemently opposed the Reform Act 1867, brought forward by Disraeli and Lord Derby, but Disraeli nonetheless appointed him Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board the same year. He was a strong voice in the opposition to Gladstone, particularly to the Irish Land Bill of 1870.[2] With the return to power of Disraeli in 1874, he was appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. In 1878, he was further advanced to become Chief Secretary for Ireland and sworn of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and of Ireland. However, he was beset with difficulties during his tenure in the secretaryship. His opposition to the Land Bill was held against him, and he treated with contempt the agitation of the Land League, which would soon break out in the Land War. He went out of office with Disraeli's government in 1880, and lost his seat at York as well.[2]
Lowther cultivated many interests outside of politics, and had time to cultivate them while attempting to return to Parliament. He served on several public bodies in Yorkshire and County Durham, He began to breed racehorses in 1873, and regularly ran them at races in the north of England.[3] However, he did not bet on them, and was highly scrupulous in his conduct, becoming a member of the Jockey Club in 1877.[2]
While Lowther was defeated at a by-election in Cumberland East in February 1881, he successfully capture North Lincolnshire in September of that year. Upon his return to the House of Commons, he became known for his arch-conservatism and protectionism. Upon the abolition of the North Lincolnshire constituency in 1885, he stood for Louth, but was defeated, and again in 1886 in Eskdale. He re-entered the house in 1888 at a by-election for the Isle of Thanet. Despite his uncompromising views, he enjoyed general popularity in the House of Commons, and had an excellent command of parliamentary procedure.[2] However, by 1903, he had been forced to give over active Parliamentary work, and sold off his racehorses.
In 1882, Lowther's third cousin once removed, Hugh Lowther, succeeded as Earl of Lonsdale and to the Lowther estates, of which James was senior trustee. Lonsdale's habits were extravagant, and James was to have great difficulty in restraining his spending, which would ultimately ruin the estate. James himself inherited Wilton Castle upon his father's death in 1894, and took great interest in managing the estate.
He died at Wilton on 12 September 1904, and left the castle to his nephew Colonel John George Lowther.[2]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John George Smyth Joshua Proctor Brown Westhead |
Member of Parliament for York 1865–1880 With: George Leeman 1865–1868, 1871–1880 Joshua Proctor Brown Westhead 1865–1871 |
Succeeded by Ralph Creyke Joseph Johnson Leeman |
| Preceded by Rowland Winn Robert Laycock |
Member of Parliament for North Lincolnshire 1881–1885 With: Rowland Winn 1881–1885 Henry John Farmer-Atkinson 1885 |
Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by Edward Robert King-Harman |
Member of Parliament for Isle of Thanet 1888–1904 |
Succeeded by Harry Hananel Marks |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen |
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies 1874–1878 |
Succeeded by The Earl Cadogan |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Bt |
Chief Secretary for Ireland 1878–1880 |
Succeeded by William Edward Forster |