Katherine Lowther

Katherine Lowther born Katherine Thynne became Katherine, Viscountess Lonsdale (21 September 1653 – 7 January 1713) was an English electoral patron. After her husband's death, she took over with his political influence in north-west England. Life Lowther was born into the now ruined Caus Castle in 1653 into the Thynne family. She was a daughter of Sir Henry Thynne, 1st Baronet and Mary Coventry, her grandfather was Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry. On 3 December 1674 she married John Lowther who was the first son of Colonel John Lowther and Elizabeth Bellingham. The Lowthers were an influential north-west English family. Their first child, Mary, was born at the home of her brother, Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth, in Staffordshire. Her husband's grandfather died on 30 November 1675 and he became the 2nd Baronet of Lowther in the County of Westmorland. For the next few years she lived with her husband in London, where several of their children were born, after 1680 she lived mostly in Lowther. After the birth of a son in 1694, Katherine became seriously ill after childbirth so she took a cure in Bath and then stayed in London until her health was restored. Her husband was a long-serving Knight of the Shire for Westmorland in the House of Commons and he became Lord High Treasurer for several months in 1690. He resigned as Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household in 1694. On 28 May 1696 he became Viscount Lonsdale and a member of the House of Lords and Katherine became Viscountess Lonsdale. Her husband became Lord Privy Seal in 1699, but he died on 10 July 1700.