Richard Lowther (1532–1608)

Sir Richard Lowther (14 February 1532 – 27 January 1607) of Lowther Hall, Westmorland was an English soldier and official. He was twice High Sheriff of Cumberland and Lord Warden of the West March in 1592.

He was grandson of John Lowther, captain of Carlisle Castle in 1545, and who was twice sheriff of Cumberland during the reign of Henry VIII. John Lowther married Lucy, daughter of Sir Christopher Curwen of Workington. He was the eldest son of Hugh Lowther (died 1546?), by his wife Dorothy, daughter of Henry Clifford, 10th Baron Clifford. He succeeded to the family estates at Lowther and elsewhere in Westmorland on his grandfather's death in 1552.

Richard Lowther was created deputy-warden of the west marches early in Elizabeth's reign, and was knighted and appointed high sheriff of Cumberland in 1565.

In the course of her flight to the Solway, after her defeat at the battle of Langside in May 1568, Mary Queen of Scots sent a letter to Lowther asking whether he could ensure her safety. He returned an evasive answer, but added that if in the meanwhile the Queen of Scots were forced to enter England he would protect her. On the evening of 16 May Mary landed in an open fishing-boat at Workington. The news spread rapidly, and on the next evening Lowther, with an escort of neighbouring gentry, conveyed her to Carlisle Castle. There she held for several days in succession a little court, and received, among others, the Earl of Northumberland, who claimed the custody of her person in right of his office as lord warden, and by authority of the council of York.

Lowther refused to give up Mary, and a violent altercation ensued. Lowther, however, had a band of soldiers to back him, and Mary remained in his hands. A few days later he permitted the Duke of Norfolk to hold an interview with her. Lowther was heavily fined in the Star Chamber for allowing Norfolk and Mary to meet, and before the end of May he was relieved of his charge of the fugitive by Sir Francis Knollys and Lord Scrope. When, however, the Queen of Scots left Carlisle on 13 July for Bolton Castle, Lowther Hall was chosen by Knollys as her first sleeping-place.

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