John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower
Encyclopedia
John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower PC (10 August 1694 – 25 December 1754), known as The Baron Gower from 1709 to 1754, was a British Tory
politician, one of the first Tories to enter government in the 18th century.
(07 Jan 1674 – 31 Aug 1709) and his wife Lady Catherine Manners (19 May 1675 – 07 Mar 1722). His maternal grandparents were John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland
and Catherine Wriothesley Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden
.
between 1742 and 1743 and 1744 and 1754. In 1742, he was appointed to the Privy Council, and on 8 July 1746, he was created Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the County of Stafford, and Earl Gower. In 1739, he became a founding Governor of London
's Foundling Hospital
.
and his first wife Lady Mary Feilding. Mary was a daughter of William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh
and his wife Mary King. They were parents to eleven children:
Gower married secondly, on 31 Oct 1733, Penelope Stonhouse (d. 19 Aug 1734), daughter of Sir John Stonhouse, 7th Baronet
, and had issue:
Gower married thirdly, on 16 May 1736, Lady Mary Tufton, daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet
and widow of Anthony Grey, Earl of Harold
, and had issue:
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician, one of the first Tories to enter government in the 18th century.
Background
Gower was a son of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron GowerJohn Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower
John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower PC was the son of Sir William Leveson-Gower, 4th Baronet and his wife Jane Granville. He was born on 7 Jan 1675 in Stittenham, Yorkshire....
(07 Jan 1674 – 31 Aug 1709) and his wife Lady Catherine Manners (19 May 1675 – 07 Mar 1722). His maternal grandparents were John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland
John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland
John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland and 9th Earl of Rutland was the son of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland and Frances Montagu. His maternal grandparents were Sir Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton and his wife Elizabeth Jeffries...
and Catherine Wriothesley Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden
Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden
Sir Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden was an English politician. He was Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Custos Rotulorum of Rutland and the Member of Parliament for Rutland....
.
Political career
Gower served as Lord Privy SealLord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
between 1742 and 1743 and 1744 and 1754. In 1742, he was appointed to the Privy Council, and on 8 July 1746, he was created Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the County of Stafford, and Earl Gower. In 1739, he became a founding Governor of 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...
's Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
.
Family
Gower married firstly, 13 Mar 1711 or 1712, Lady Evelyn Pierrepont (06 Sep 1691 – 26 Jun 1729), daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-HullEvelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull
Evelyn Pierrepont, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull had been member of parliament for East Retford before his accession to the peerage in 1690. While serving as one of the commissioners for the union with Scotland he was created Marquess of Dorchester in 1706, and took a leading part in...
and his first wife Lady Mary Feilding. Mary was a daughter of William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh, 2nd Earl of Desmond Son of George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond and Bridget Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope...
and his wife Mary King. They were parents to eleven children:
- Hon. John Leveson-Gower (28 Nov 1712 – 15 Jul 1723).
- Lady Gertrude Leveson-Gower (15 Feb 1714/1715 – 1 Jul 1794), who married John Russell, 4th Duke of BedfordJohn Russell, 4th Duke of BedfordJohn Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, FRS was an 18th century British statesman. He was the fourth son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Howland of Streatham, Surrey...
. - Hon. William Leveson-Gower (17 Feb 1715/1716 – 4 Apr 1739).
- Lady Mary Leveson-Gower (30 Oct 1717 – 30 Apr 1778), who married Sir Richard WrottesleyBaron WrottesleyBaron Wrottesley, of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1838 for Sir John Wrottesley, 9th Baronet. He was a Major-General in the Army and also represented Lichfield, Staffordshire and Staffordshire South in House of Commons. He...
, 7th Baronet. - Hon. Frances Leveson-Gower (12 Aug 1720 – 1788), who married John Philip Sackville, son of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of DorsetLionel Sackville, 1st Duke of DorsetLionel Cranfield Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset, PC was an English political leader and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was the son of the 6th Earl of Dorset and 1st Earl of Middlesex and the former Lady Mary Compton, younger daughter of the 3rd Earl of Northampton...
, and had issue John Sackville, 3rd Duke of DorsetJohn Sackville, 3rd Duke of DorsetJohn Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset was the only son of Lord John Philip Sackville, second son of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset. He succeeded to the dukedom in 1769 on the death of his uncle, Charles Sackville, 2nd Duke of Dorset...
. - Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of StaffordGranville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of StaffordGranville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford PC , known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician.-Background:...
(4 Aug 1721 – 26 Oct 1803). - Lady Elizabeth Leveson-Gower (20 Jan 1723/1724 – 28 Apr 1784), who married John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl WaldegraveJohn Waldegrave, 3rd Earl WaldegraveJohn Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave was a British politician and soldier.Waldegrave was the youngest son of the 1st Earl Waldegrave. He joined the 1st Regiment of Foot in 1735, rising to the rank of Captain in 1739...
. - Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower (26 Jan 1724/1725 – 14 Apr 1763), who married John Fitzpatrick, 1st Earl of Upper OssoryJohn FitzPatrick, 1st Earl of Upper OssoryJohn FitzPatrick, 1st Earl of Upper Ossory lived in County Cork in Ireland.He married Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower, daughter of the 1st Earl Gower, on 29 June 1744. They had four children:...
. - Hon. Richard Leveson-GowerRichard Leveson-GowerRichard Leveson-Gower was the fourth son of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower.He served as Member of Parliament for Lichfield from 1747 until his death. He did not marry.-References:...
(30 Apr 1726 – 19 Oct 1753), who served as a Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA 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,...
. - Hon. Catherine Leveson-Gower (possibly born on 31 May 1727 and died in infancy).
- Hon. Diana Leveson-Gower (31 May 1727 – 1737).
Gower married secondly, on 31 Oct 1733, Penelope Stonhouse (d. 19 Aug 1734), daughter of Sir John Stonhouse, 7th Baronet
Stonhouse Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Stonhouse family, all in the Baronetage of England. Two of the creations are extant as of 2011....
, and had issue:
- Hon. Penelope Leveson-Gower (circa Jun 1734 – 26 Feb 1742).
Gower married thirdly, on 16 May 1736, Lady Mary Tufton, daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet
Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet
Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet, 18th Baron de Clifford PC was an English nobleman and politician.He was the fourth son of John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet and his wife Margaret Sackville, Baroness Clifford and inherited the title on the death in 1684 of his elder brother Richard Tufton, 5th Earl...
and widow of Anthony Grey, Earl of Harold
Anthony Grey, Earl of Harold
Anthony Grey, 3rd Baron Lucas, styled Earl of Harold was a British peer and courtier.Grey was the eldest son of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent and his wife, Jemima Crew. His maternal grandparents were Thomas Crew, 2nd Baron Crew and Anne Armyne...
, and had issue:
- Hon. Thomas Leveson-Gower (born on 23 Aug 1738 but known to have died young).
- Admiral Hon. John Leveson-GowerJohn Leveson-Gower (1740-1792)John Leveson-Gower was an officer of the Royal Navy and a politician. He saw service during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of rear-admiral...
(11 Jul 1740 – 28 Aug 1792), married Frances Boscawen, daughter of Admiral Edward BoscawenEdward BoscawenAdmiral Edward Boscawen, PC was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament for the borough of Truro, Cornwall. He is known principally for his various naval commands throughout the 18th Century and the engagements that he won, including the Siege of Louisburg in 1758 and Battle of Lagos...
.