Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Gower and 1st Marquis of Stafford (1721-1803)
Granville Leveson-Gower was born in August 1721, the son of John Leveson-Gower, first Earl Gower (1694-1754) and his first wife Lady Evelyn Pierrepont (1691-1727). Granville married three times. His second ...
Granville Leveson-Gower, Lord Lieutenant and the Staffordshire Militia
Many of Earl Gower’s papers as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire and High Steward of Stafford relate to his direction of the Staffordshire Militia.
A printed document amongst these papers details the ...
Granville Leveson-Gower: Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire 1755-1800
Like his father, Sir John Leveson-Gower (1694-1754), the first Earl Gower, Granville Leveson-Gower was an influential figure in Staffordshire politics. He served as Lord Lieutenant of the County from ...
Granville, Earl Gower and Canals: Navigable Waterways in the later Eighteenth Century
Throughout the second half of the eighteenth century, Granville Leveson-Gower was central to the development of navigable waterways. Enthusiastic about the economic development of Staffordshire and Shropshire, ...
Granville, Earl Gower and National Politics: William Pitt the Younger and the post of Lord Privy Seal
Owing to Gower’s long and diverse political career, the Sutherland Papers includes many letters from various men in high political office, including letters from Prime ministers Henry Addington and William ...
Granville, Lord Lieutenant and Prisoners in Stafford County Gaol
As Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Granville, Earl Gower was responsible for overseeing the maintenance of law and order in the County.
A notable document amongst the papers relating to Earl Gower’s ...
Sir John and Horse Racing
In addition to these blood sports, Sir John was also involved in the organisation of horse racing. A letter written to Sir John by William Manners, the son of John, the third Duke of Rutland, discusses ...
Sir John Leveson, Baron Gower (1675-1709)
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 ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower 2nd Baron Gower of Stittenham and first Earl Gower (1694-1754)
Sir John Leveson-Gower was born on 9th August 1694, the eldest son of Sir John Leveson-Gower (1675-1709), the first Baron Gower, and his wife Lady Katherine Manners (1675-1722). Sir John inherited extensive ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower and Mrs. Doncastle the Housekeeper
Mrs. Doncastle was Sir John’s housekeeper at Leicester House in Middlesex. A number of letters in Sir John’s papers demonstrate that Sir John and Mrs Doncastle shared a close relationship, Mrs. Doncastle ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower and the Jacobean Uprisings
Sir John was the Lord Privy Seal during the Jacobite Uprisings of the 1740s. His prominent political position and his loyalty to the King against the Jacobites earned him the title of Earl Gower in 1746. ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower and the Navigation of the Waterways: The Disadvantages of the Canals
Sir John Leveson-Gower was a prominent social and political figure in the House of Lords. Notable amongst his papers are two letters relating to Parliamentary Bills concerning the development of navigable ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower at Home: Building a Library at Trentham
Amongst Sir John’s personal papers is a document entitled ‘An Estimate for the workmanship of the Carcase of a building design’d for a Library and Servants Room for the Right Honourable Lord Gower at ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, a Sporting Fellow: Cock Fighting in the Early Eighteenth Century
Sir John was also involved in cock fighting. A letter from the 3rd Duke of Rutland, dated 2nd July 1722 refers to ‘our Cocking’. Sir John and Rutland were active participants in cock fighting, organising ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, a Sporting Fellow: Fox Hunting and Horse Racing in the Early Eighteenth Century
Many of Sir John’s personal papers refer to his leisure activities. Letters and bills of expenses suggest that Sir John was a keen sportsman, involved in fox hunting, cock fighting and horse racing.
Sir ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, a Sporting Fellow: Hunting Parties
Amongst Sir John’s papers are a number of accounts relating to his personal and household expenses on fox-hunting. Much of Sir John’s correspondence refers to fox hunting, his letters from Henry Vernon ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, Estate Owner: Letters from George Cookes
Many letters in Sir John’s papers relate to the management of the Leveson-Gower estates. Sir John’s papers include correspondence from various agents working on his Staffordshire and Shropshire estates, ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, Estate Owner: Letters from Reverend George Plaxton (1647/8-1720), Chief Estate Agent
Sir John also received regular correspondence from Reverend George Plaxton, the Chief Agent on the Leveson-Gower estates. These letters refer again to estate business. However, unlike George Cookes’s ...