John Christian Curwen
John Christian Curwen, born John Christian (12 July 1756 – 11 December 1828) was an English Member of Parliament and High Sheriff.[1]
He was born the son of John Christian of Ewanrigg, Cumberland (now Cumbria) and Jane, the daughter of Eldred Curwen of Workington Hall, Cumberland. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge (1773) before going on the Grand Tour between 1779 and 1782.
He married twice; firstly Margaret, the daughter of John Taubman, Speaker of House of Keys, of Castletown, Isle of Man, with whom he had a son and secondly his cousin Isabella, the daughter and heiress of Henry Curwen of Workington, with whom he had 5 sons and 3 daughters. He succeeded his father in 1767 and took the name of Curwen in 1790 after inheriting Workington Hall. Workington Hall, now ruined after a wartime fire, is a Grade I listed building.[2] He was pricked High Sheriff of Cumberland for 1784–85.
He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Carlisle for 1786 to 1790 and again for 1791 to 1812 and for 1816 to 1820. He was then elected to represent the county seat of Cumberland. He was a member of the Whig party and an active campaigner in Parliament.
He died in financial difficulties because of increased costs and reduced profits from his coal mines and was buried in an unmarked grave in Workington. His eldest son John Christian inherited Ewanrigg and his second son Henry Curwen (1783–1861) inherited Workington Hall.
References
- ↑ "CURWEN (formerly CHRISTIAN), John Christian (1756–1828), of Ewanrigg and Workington Hall, Cumb.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ↑ Historic England. "Workington Hall (1144479)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John Lowther The Earl of Surrey |
Member of Parliament for Carlisle 1786–1790 With: The Earl of Surrey to November 1786 Edward Knubley November 1786 – 1787 Rowland Stephenson 1787–1790 |
Succeeded by James Clarke Satterthwaite Edward Knubley |
| Preceded by James Clarke Satterthwaite Edward Knubley |
Member of Parliament for Carlisle 1791–1800 With: Wilson Gale-Braddyll to 1796 Sir Frederick Fletcher-Vane, 2nd Bt from 1796 |
Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain |
Member of Parliament for Carlisle 1801–1812 With: Sir Frederick Fletcher-Vane, 2nd Bt to 1802 Walter Spencer-Stanhope from 1802 |
Succeeded by Sir James Graham, 1st Bt Henry Fawcett |
| Preceded by Viscount Morpeth Sir John Lowther, 1st Bt |
Member of Parliament for Cumberland 1820–1829 With: Sir John Lowther, 1st Bt |
Succeeded by Sir James Graham, 2nd Bt Sir John Lowther, 1st Bt |