Earl of Lonsdale

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The title Earl of Lonsdale has been created twice - first in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1784 (becoming extinct in 1802), and then in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1807, both times for members of the Lowther family.

The titles of Viscount Lonsdale and Baron Lowther, in the Peerage of England, were conferred upon Sir John Lowther, of Lowther, 2nd Baronet, in 1696. On the death of the 3rd Viscount in 1751, the barony and viscountcy became extinct, and the baronetcy passed to his second cousin James Lowther. He was created Baron Lowther, Baron Kendal, Baron Burgh, Viscount Lonsdale, Viscount Lowther and Earl of Lonsdale in 1784. However, he had no heirs, and so in 1797 he was further created Baron Lowther and Viscount Lowther, with a special remainder to allow the succession of his third cousin once removed, Sir William Lowther of Little Preston, 2nd Baronet (of the creation of 1764). Sir William duly succeeded to the Barony and Viscountcy of Lowther in 1802, and in 1807 was created Earl of Lonsdale, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

The present Earl is therefore 8th Earl of Lonsdale (UK, 1807), 9th Viscount Lowther (GB, 1797), 9th Baron Lowther (GB, 1797), and 9th Baronet (GB, 1764).

The family seat was Lowther Castle in Cumbria but the present earl lives at nearby Askham Hall.