“ He secured the election of William Pitt as member for his borough of Appleby in 1781, and his dispute with the 3rd duke of Portland over the possession of the socage manor of Carlisle and the forest of Inglewood gave rise to lengthy proceedings, both in parliament and in the law courts. In 1784 Lowther was created earl of Lonsdale and in 1797 Viscount Lowther with an extended remainder. The earl’s enormous wealth enabled him to gratify his political ambitions. ”

“ Sir Gerard Augustus Lowther (b. 1858) , who became British ambassador at Constantinople in 1908; and the Right Hon. James Lowther (1840–1904) , who was a well-known Conservative member of parliament from 1865 onwards, and chief secretary for Ireland from 1878 to 1880. ”