Sir Christopher Lowther, 1st Baronet
- Sir Christopher Lowther, 1st Baronet
Sir Christopher Lowther, 1st Baronet (1611 – April 1644) was an English merchant and landowner, responsible for the initial development of Whitehaven as a port.
He was born at Skirwith Hall, the second son of Sir John Lowther of Lowther (d. 1637) and Eleanor Fleming of Skirwith. Admitted to the Inner Temple in 1627, he apparently studied the mercantile trade with his uncle Robert (d. 1655) as well as legal studies. It was apparently intended that he run the Irish portion of the family enterprises from Whitehaven, which was well situated for trading with Dublin.
Lowther proved to be a good merchant, trading a variety of goods in Ireland and the Canary Islands, including textiles, beef, salt, coal and herring. He also developed salt works around Whitehaven in conjunction with Sir George Radcliffe, then influential in Irish politics. This would lead to the construction of the first pier at Whitehaven, which much improved its value as a port.
Lowther was in Hamburg on a textile venture in 1637, the year that his father died. After Sir John's death, Christopher inherited the manor of St Bees in Whitehaven, and he and his brothers appear to have separated their mercantile concerns, notwithstanding the family principle of cooperation in business. He married Frances Lancaster (c.1624–1647) on 6 September 1638, by whom he would have two children:
*Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet (1642–1706)
*Frances Lowther (b. 1644), married Richard Lamplugh
Lowther served as High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1641, and suffered losses that year when the Irish Rebellion of 1641 destroyed his iron furnaces in that country and generally disrupted trade. He was created a baronet on 11 June 1642 in return for raising a troop of horse for Irish service. A Cavalier, his declining health prevented him from active campaigning, although he was in nominal command of a regiment of foot under Newcastle and governor of Whitehaven and Cockermouth Castle. He arranged a trusteeship for his estate in February 1644, as his health worsened, and died at Whitehaven in April 1644.
References
*cite book | first=D. R | last=Hainsworth | chapter=Lowther, Sir Christopher, first baronet (1611–1644) | title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2004 | chapterurl=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/67098 | accessdate=2007-05-19
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet, of Lowther — Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet (20 February 1605 – 30 November 1675) was an English landowner, the eldest son of Sir John Lowther of Lowther.He sat as Member of Parliament for Westmorland from 1628 to 1629, in the third Parliament of Charles I,… … Wikipedia
Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet, of Little Preston — Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet (10 July 1707 – 15 June 1788) was an English landowner and curate, of Little Preston, Yorkshire.The eldest son of Christopher Lowther (d. 1718) and grandson of Sir William Lowther, he entered the Church and became … Wikipedia
Sir Thomas Lowther, 2nd Baronet — (20 April, 1699 ndash; 23 March 1745) was an English landowner, dwelling at Marske Hall, Yorkshire. He was the only son of Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet and Catherine Preston.On 2 July, 1723 he married Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of… … Wikipedia
Sir Gordon Touche, 1st Baronet — Sir Gordon Cosmo Touche, 1st Baronet (8 July 1895 – 19 May 1972) was a British Barrister and politician who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for more than 30 years and became Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. However, his… … Wikipedia
Christopher Lowther — may refer to: Christopher Lowther of Little Preston (d. 1718), younger son of Sir William Lowther, ancestor of the Earls of Lonsdale Sir Christopher Lowther, 1st Baronet (d. 1644) Sir Christopher Lowther, 3rd Baronet (1666–1731) Christopher… … Wikipedia
Sir John Beckett, 2nd Baronet — Sir John Beckett, 2nd Baronet, PC, FRS (17 May 1775 – 31 May, 1847), was a British lawyer and Tory politician.Beckett was the son of Sir John Beckett, 1st Baronet (1743–1826), and his wife Mary, daughter of Christopher Wilson. He was also a… … Wikipedia
Lowther Baronets — Lowther Castle circa 1880 the seat of the Lowther family There have been seven Baronetcies created for members of the Lowther family, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, two in the Baronetage of England, two in the Baronetage of Great Britain… … Wikipedia
Lowther family — This article summarises the relationships between various members of the family of Lowther.*N... Lowther **Sir John Lowther, of Lowther (d. 1637) ***Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet (1605 1675) ****John Lowther (of Hackthorpe) *****John Lowther, 1st … Wikipedia
William Lowther (1639-1705) — Sir William Lowther (18 August 1639 – 7 December 1705) was an English landowner dwelling at Swillington, the eldest son of Sir William Lowther.He married Catherine Harrison and had ten children: [cite web |… … Wikipedia
Christopher Wray — For the Grimsby MP, see Christopher Wray (MP). Sir Christopher Wray. Sir Christopher Wray (1524 – 7 May 1592) was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. Contents … Wikipedia
