John Bowes, 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

Who was John Bowes, 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne?

John Bowes, 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne was the eldest son of John Bowes, 9th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and Mary Bowes, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. His mother was the author of the verse drama, "The Siege of Jerusalem".

He succeeded his father as Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne when the latter died at sea on 7 March 1776.

From 30 June 1796 to 24 October 1806 and again from 9 June 1807 to 29 September 1812, he sat as a Scottish Representative peer in the House of Lords.

He had a long affair with the commoner Mary Milner, the beautiful daughter of a gardener; according to some versions he went through a false ceremony of marriage with her. They had one son:

John Bowes, known as Lord Glamis from birth until 1820, and sent to Eton under that name.

The Earl was created Baron Bowes on 1815 and held this as a subsidiary title to his death.

He married Mary on 2 July 1820, a mere day before his death. He attempted to legitimize his son by this marriage and his will named his son as his heir. According to his will, all his real estate were left to Mary and five other trustees in name of his son. The trustees were also required to pay Mary £l,000 p.a for life.