Preceded by The Lord Hervey Role British Politician | Prime Minister The Earl of Wilmington Monarch George II Name John 1st Died December 25, 1754 | |
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Succeeded by The Earl of Cholmondeley Spouse Penelope Stonhouse (m. 1733), Evelyn Pierrepont Children Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford, John Leveson-Gower, Richard Leveson-Gower Parents John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower, Lady Catherine Manners Siblings Baptist Leveson-Gower, Thomas Leveson-Gower Education Christ Church, Oxford, Adams' Grammar School | ||
John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower PC (10 August 1694 – 25 December 1754), known as The Baron Gower from 1709 to 1746, was a British Tory politician from the Leveson-Gower family, one of the first Tories to enter government in the 18th century.
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Background
Gower was a son of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower (7 January 1675 – 31 August 1709) and his wife Lady Catherine Manners (19 May 1675 – 7 March 1722). His maternal grandparents were John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland and Catherine Wriothesley Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden. He was educated at Adams' Grammar School before entering Christ Church, Oxford in 1710. He was awarded degree as D.C.L. from the latter university in 1732.
Political career
Gower served as Lord Privy Seal 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.
Family
Gower married firstly, 13 March 1711 or 1712, Lady Evelyn Pierrepont (6 September 1691 – 26 June 1729), daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull 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 October 1733, Penelope Stonhouse (d. 19 August 1734), daughter of Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd 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: