Lowther, William, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757 -1844)

William Lowther, born 29 December 1757, was the elder son of the Reverend Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet of Little Preston and Anne, eldest daughter of Charles Zouch, of Sandall in Yorkshire. He succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet in 1788 and his cousin, James, Earl of Lonsdale in the Viscountcy and Barony of Lowther, by special remainder in 1802. On 7 April 1807 he was created Earl of Lonsdale of the second creation, and a Knight of the Garter. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, Member of Parliament for Carlisle 1780 1784, for Cumberland 1784 1790 and for Rutland 1791 1802 and was Recorder of Carlisle. He married, 12 July 1781, Augusta Fane, eldest daughter of the 9th Earl of Westmorland. He died 19 March 1844. Books from his library were sold at auction by Sotheby's 27 March 1922, and a further “selected portion of the Library at Lowther Castle, Penrith” 12 14 July 1937.