Description:Sir John Leveson-Gower was the only son of Sir William Leveson Gower and Lady Jane Granville. Born in 1675, Sir John distinguished himself in political circles, being appointed in his father’s place as MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1692. From then on he became a prominent figure in Tory politics, becoming a privy councillor in 1702 before being appointed as Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1703 he was made Baron Gower of Stittenham.
In 1692 Sir John married Lady Katherine Manners (1675-1722), the daughter of John Manners, the first Duke of Rutland. They had seven children – four sons and three daughters. Unfortunately, Sir John suffered ill health throughout his life and died at the young age of thirty four.
Sir John’s papers in the Sutherland collection provide a detailed portrait of his character and career. Aside from his political dealings, Sir John’s correspondence reveals a man concerned with public reputation and disappointed by setbacks in his political career. Sir John’s correspondence with Reverend George Paxton suggests that he was interested in the genealogy of his family and the effective management of his estates. In addition, a detailed inventory reflects a man concerned with the design of his properties.
Contextual information about Sir John taken from Richard Wisker, ‘Gower, John Leveson-, first Baron Gower (1675–1709)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16545]