Sir Christopher Lowther, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Christopher Lowther, 3rd Baronet (1666 – 2 October 1731) was an English
baronet
, the eldest son of Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet and Jane Leigh (died 1678). His alcoholism
and irresponsibility caused his father to disinherit him in 1701, leaving his brother James
to become master of the Lowther estates at Whitehaven
.
set there, and took to drinking and gambling
. However, after leaving Oxford and taking up legal studies at the Inns of Court
in 1688, his behavior improved somewhat, and his father began to consider finding a post for him.
and resume his legal studies. While he several times pledged to forgo liquor, the return of his brother James as Member of Parliament
for Carlisle
in late 1694 aroused great jealously in him, and he began drinking again.
In 1698, Lowther was reconciled with his father, who brought him to Whitehaven and gave him a part in the management of the family estates. He does not appear to have shirked his duties, and letters from him regarding the operation of the coal mines are still extant. Sir John again began to consider finding a government employment for him. However, on 5 July 1700, he precipitately left Whitehaven without his father's permission and returned to London. Three months later, he was imprisoned by his creditors in London
, and was not released until 1702, when William Lancaster, the future provost of Queen's College, Oxford, paid his debts.
. James obtained his release in June 1706 by paying a debt of £54. In return for his residual rights on the Lowther estates, James settled on him an annuity which, with the allowance already made by the will, gave Christopher about £200 a year.
In 1710, he married Jane Nanson, daughter of Philip Nanson, rector of Newnham, Hampshire
. He spent the remainder of his life dwelling with his father-in-law or in his house on Brook Street, Holborn
. He left no children, so upon his death in London in 1731, the baronetcy passed to his younger brother.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, the eldest son of Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet and Jane Leigh (died 1678). His alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and irresponsibility caused his father to disinherit him in 1701, leaving his brother James
Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet
Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet, FRS was an English landowner, politician and industrialist. He obtained immense wealth from coal mines in northern England, which he extensively developed and modernised.-Early life:...
to become master of the Lowther estates at Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
.
Early life
Lowther was born at Sockbridge Hall and baptised on 4 June 1666. Correspondence suggests he may have been lame. He entered Queen's College, Oxford in 1685, but fell in with the rakishRake (character)
A rake, short for rakehell, is a historic term applied to a man who is habituated to immoral conduct, frequently a heartless womanizer. Often a rake was a man who wasted his fortune on gambling, wine, women and song, incurring lavish debts in the process...
set there, and took to drinking and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
. However, after leaving Oxford and taking up legal studies at the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
in 1688, his behavior improved somewhat, and his father began to consider finding a post for him.
Relations with family
Unfortunately, Christopher quarreled with his father in 1691, and spent the next several years with a friend, the Rev. H. Maurice, who tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to forswear alcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and resume his legal studies. While he several times pledged to forgo liquor, the return of his brother James as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Carlisle
Carlisle (UK Parliament constituency)
Carlisle is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was a Labour seat from 1964 until 2010, although the Conservatives came close to victory in the elections in...
in late 1694 aroused great jealously in him, and he began drinking again.
In 1698, Lowther was reconciled with his father, who brought him to Whitehaven and gave him a part in the management of the family estates. He does not appear to have shirked his duties, and letters from him regarding the operation of the coal mines are still extant. Sir John again began to consider finding a government employment for him. However, on 5 July 1700, he precipitately left Whitehaven without his father's permission and returned to London. Three months later, he was imprisoned by his creditors in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was not released until 1702, when William Lancaster, the future provost of Queen's College, Oxford, paid his debts.
Disinheritance and later life
This final episode served to exhaust the patience of his father, Sir John. When he fell ill in February 1701, he made out a will leaving the Lowther estates to James, in lieu of Christopher. James was then studying in London, and he continued to report on Christopher's escapades until May 1702, when he agreed to no longer mention him to his father until they could be reconciled again. It was not to be. Sir John died in January 1706, leaving the bulk of his fortune to James, and an allowance of £2 a week for Christopher. By this time, Christopher had again gambled his way into debt, and was thrown into Newgate PrisonNewgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
. James obtained his release in June 1706 by paying a debt of £54. In return for his residual rights on the Lowther estates, James settled on him an annuity which, with the allowance already made by the will, gave Christopher about £200 a year.
In 1710, he married Jane Nanson, daughter of Philip Nanson, rector of Newnham, Hampshire
Newnham, Hampshire
Newnham is a village and parish in Hampshire, England. It is situated east of Basingstoke, and west of Hook. At the 2001 census it had a population of 513.-Local government:Newnham is a civil parish with an elected parish council...
. He spent the remainder of his life dwelling with his father-in-law or in his house on Brook Street, Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
. He left no children, so upon his death in London in 1731, the baronetcy passed to his younger brother.