James Lowther (1840–1904)

The Right Honourable
James Lowther
PC, PC (Ire), DL, JP

"Jim"
Lowther as caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, December 1877
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 (1840-12)
Swillington, Yorkshire
Died 12 September 1904 (1904-09-13) (aged 63)
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.

Background and education

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]

Political career

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 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 captured 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.

Lowther estates

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.

Personal life

He died at Wilton on 12 September 1904, and left the castle to his nephew Colonel John George Lowther.[2]

References

  1. "Lowther, James (LWTR858J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lucas, Reginald (2004). "Lowther, James (1840–1904)". In rev. H. C. G. Matthew. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  3. "History of the Zetland Gold Cup". Archived from the original on 2007-01-15. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
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
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