James Lowther

Who was James Lowther?

Colonel James Lowther 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. 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.