Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater
Encyclopedia
Nicholas James Christopher Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater, LVO
, PC
(born 9 January 1942), succeeded his great-grandfather in the Viscountcy of Ullswater in 1949. He is one of very few peers to have succeeded a great-grandfather in a title.
He was educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
.
Lord Ullswater was made a Lord-in-Waiting
in January 1989 by Margaret Thatcher
, before becoming Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Employment in July 1990. He was retained by John Major
in that role until 1993 when he became Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
). He remained in this role for a year when he became Minister of State for the Environment in 1994 (as well as a Privy Counsellor
) in 1994. However, he left the Government in a 1995 reshuffle and in 1998 became the Private Secretary to Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
and continued in this office until her death in 2002. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
in the special Honours List issued by The Queen after Princess Margaret's demise.
As a member of a Royal Household
he could not take part in partisan politics and did not seek to remain in the House of Lords
when the House of Lords Act 1999
was passed. However, after the death of the Viscount of Oxfuird in January 2003, he emerged as the Conservative
s' preferred candidate and won the by-election enabling him to return to the House of Lords.
On 22 May 2006, Lord Ullswater was nominated for the newly-created post of Lord Speaker
and in the election held on 28 June 2006 emerged in third place out of a total of nine candidates. His great-grandfather, James Lowther, served as Speaker of the House of Commons
1905–1921. Lord Ullswater was an amateur jockey in his youth. He has two sons and two daughters:
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(born 9 January 1942), succeeded his great-grandfather in the Viscountcy of Ullswater in 1949. He is one of very few peers to have succeeded a great-grandfather in a title.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
.
Lord Ullswater was made a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
in January 1989 by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, before becoming Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Employment in July 1990. He was retained by John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
in that role until 1993 when he became Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
). He remained in this role for a year when he became Minister of State for the Environment in 1994 (as well as a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
) in 1994. However, he left the Government in a 1995 reshuffle and in 1998 became the Private Secretary to Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
and continued in this office until her death in 2002. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in the special Honours List issued by The Queen after Princess Margaret's demise.
As a member of a Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
he could not take part in partisan politics and did not seek to remain in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
when the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
was passed. However, after the death of the Viscount of Oxfuird in January 2003, he emerged as the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
s' preferred candidate and won the by-election enabling him to return to the House of Lords.
On 22 May 2006, Lord Ullswater was nominated for the newly-created post of Lord Speaker
Lord Speaker
The Lord Speaker is the speaker of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The office is analogous to the Speaker of the House of Commons: the Lord Speaker is elected by the members of the House of Lords and is expected to be politically impartial.Until July 2006, the role of...
and in the election held on 28 June 2006 emerged in third place out of a total of nine candidates. His great-grandfather, James Lowther, served as Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
1905–1921. Lord Ullswater was an amateur jockey in his youth. He has two sons and two daughters:
- Hon. Emma Mary Lowther, (b. 1968)
- Hon. Clare Priscilla Lowther, (b. 1970)
- Hon. Benjamin James Lowther (b. 1975)
- Hon. Edward John Lowther (b. 1981)