Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet

Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet
Born	1673
Died	1755-01-02
Occupation(s)	Landowner, industrial entrepreneur, politician
Years active	1694–1755
Known for	Coal mining operations near Whitehaven; longest-serving MP for over 54 years; prominent Whig politician

Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet, FRS (1673 – 2 January 1755), was a prominent English landowner, industrial entrepreneur, and Whig politician who represented constituencies in the House of Commons for a remarkable span of 54 years from 1694 until his death in 1755. His expansion and management of coal mining operations near Whitehaven in Cumberland yielded significant profits, earning him a reputation as possibly the wealthiest commoner in England.

Early life

Born as the second son to Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet, and Jane Leigh, Lowther was baptized on 5 August 1673 at St Giles in the Fields, London. He received private tutoring in London before matriculating at Queen's College, Oxford, and later joined the Middle Temple. Following his father's passing in 1706, the baronetcy initially passed to his elder brother Christopher, who was subsequently disinherited due to personal difficulties. As a result, the family estates were transferred to James, who eventually inherited the baronetcy himself in 1731 after Christopher died without heirs.

Politics

Lowther began his parliamentary career in 1694 when he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Carlisle, holding the seat until 1702. Between 1696 and 1708, he served on the Board of Ordnance. Afterward, he returned to Parliament representing Cumberland until 1722. In 1723, he briefly served as MP for Appleby before resuming his representation of Cumberland from 1727 until his passing. His uncontested election in 1754 marked his fifteenth term and over six decades of continuous parliamentary service. Appointed to the Privy Council in 1714, Lowther was aligned with the Whig party but concentrated mainly on promoting regional interests within Cumbria rather than engaging deeply in national political matters.

Source of wealth

The core financial strength of Lowther’s estates derived from coal mining operations in West Cumberland. At the time James inherited them, these mines exported approximately 35,000 tons annually and yielded profits near £1,000. Utilizing this revenue stream, he expanded and enhanced his properties within the Cumberland coalfield, securing his position as its foremost coal proprietor. Whitehaven was the primary source of coal shipments from West Cumberland, with much of its output destined for Ireland. The Lowther family thus dominated this trade; however, prices for Dublin coal were influenced by competition from other coal-producing regions rather than ports like Workington in Cumberland. Lowther’s father had expressed concerns about maintaining this dominance amid rising production elsewhere—such as Workington pits controlled by the Curwen family—and limitations imposed by Whitehaven’s harbour capacity. Unlike coal owners on Tyneside who safeguarded profits through a price-fixing cartel known as the 'Grand Alliance,' Lowther adopted alternative tactics to uphold his market position.

In 1739, Sir John Clerk of Penicuik characterized him as "an indolent old man" who depended heavily on professional advice to oversee his coal enterprises. Although Lowther’s principal residence was in London, his success relied substantially on competent deputies—most notably the Spedding brothers, John and Carlisle. He maintained extensive correspondence with them and made annual visits to Whitehaven during summer months. Under his leadership, Whitehaven’s coal production more than tripled and profits increased over sixfold.

The Spedding brothers

John Spedding (1685–1758) initially worked under Lowther’s father assisting with financial accounts. In Sir John's will, he bequeathed John two years' wages (£20) and recommended him to James Lowther. John's critical examination of colliery manager John Gale’s accounts uncovered embezzlement that led to Gale’s dismissal in 1707; John then assumed the role of colliery manager himself. Originally intended to accompany one of Gale’s sons at sea, John’s younger brother Carlisle instead worked alongside John at the mines. Carlisle is reputed to have worked undercover as a hewer in Tyneside mines to gain operational insight—though this account lacks strong documentation. John advanced to steward from 1722 to 1730 (initially sharing duties with Richard Gilpin before serving alone) and engaged in business activities financed by Lowther capital that sometimes blurred personal and employer interests. Carlisle earned national acclaim for introducing mining innovations at Whitehaven and succeeded John as colliery manager in 1730.

Acquisitions in West Cumberland

From 1709 to 1754, more than £46,000 was allocated to enlarge Lowther’s land and coal royalty interests within West Cumberland. This approach sought to remove local rivals and secure an almost exclusive position in the market. Although a complete monopoly proved unattainable due to lack of sufficient acquisition proposals, by the 1740s Lowther had become the leading exporter of coal from all harbours across the coalfield. Financial advances were given to regional landowners with the aim of acquiring assets through foreclosure; this method led to the takeover of mines at Moresby and Distington. Attempts to lease Workington pits owned by the Curwen family were repeatedly unsuccessful. Nevertheless, in 1731 a lease was obtained for Seaton colliery, which was considered crucial for controlling the coalfield. By 1734, those leasing Clifton colliery agreed to restrict exports and channel coal sales exclusively through Seaton lessees, effectively centralizing trade at Workington harbour under Lowther’s authority. Later conflicts emerged when a junior partner accused Lowther of intentionally operating Seaton inefficiently to limit competition.

In 1742, Lowther secured a lease on coal royalties belonging to St Bees School—where both Sir James and John Spedding served as governors—on highly disadvantageous terms: a fixed annual rent of £3.50 for 867 years without additional charges per ton extracted. This conflict of interest eventually led to the lease being nullified in 1827 following intervention by Charity Commissioners, resulting in back-royalty payments exceeding £13,000.

Steam-powered mine drainage

The Lowther coal mines at Whitehaven, inherited by James, were situated on elevated terrain west of the town (later referred to as Howgill colliery) and exploited seams dipping approximately 10% westward. Water removal through gravity drainage using adits was partially effective but limited in scope. To prevent flooding as mining progressed deeper, Sir John initially relied on horse-powered gins, which became increasingly expensive with depth. Both Sir John and James questioned the financial feasibility of further coal extraction. In 1712, John Spedding proposed implementing steam pumping based on Captain Savery’s invention; however, no immediate action was taken until 1715 when Lowther consulted Thomas Newcomen about a flooded shaft. Newcomen offered a steam engine capable of removing water in two-thirds the time and at one-quarter of the cost compared to horse gins.

An agreement was made in November 1715 for leasing a small Newcomen engine (with a 17-inch cylinder) at an annual cost of £182. Despite initial technical difficulties—such as boiler corrosion, steam leaks, and failures in wooden piping—the engine and pumps ultimately proved effective. After a decade, in February 1727, Lowther acquired ownership of the engine and operational rights for £200 and paid an additional £350 for a license permitting construction and use of a larger model. In correspondence with John Spedding, Lowther commended Newcomen’s honesty and inventive skill.

While horses remained vital for hauling coal and winding tasks, adopting steam-driven pumps represented a significant technological breakthrough in mine drainage, improving efficiency and prolonging the productive lifespan of Whitehaven’s coal mines.

Extracting coal beneath the sea – Saltom pit

Sir James Lowther leveraged advancements in water control techniques by establishing a shaft on the western boundary of the Howgill colliery, near the coastline at Saltom. Excavation commenced in early 1730, culminating in a formal opening ceremony in May 1732 marked by considerable fanfare. The Newcastle Courant lauded the endeavor for its ambitious scale—sinking a shaft measuring twelve by ten feet to a depth of seventy-seven fathoms, which was then the deepest in Europe, reaching a three-yard-thick coal seam known as the Main Band within 23 months. This feat was achieved using thirty barrels of gunpowder without any fatalities among workers. The operation overcame significant obstacles, including encountering a "blower" of firedamp at forty-two fathoms, expertly managed by Lowther’s overseers John and Carlisle Spedding. This success promised a long-lasting and valuable mining enterprise.

Further enhancements became necessary as direct shipment from Saltom proved unfeasible. Consequently, an underground tunnel was constructed to connect with another pit that featured a waggonway leading to Whitehaven harbour. The initial pumping engine proved insufficient and was replaced by two larger engines by 1739. Saltom pit opened access to coal seams previously unreachable; by 1765, mining extended 1.5 miles from the shaft and three-quarters of a mile beneath the sea. Although Lowther’s mineral rights only extended to the low water mark, it was not until 1860 that the Crown claimed ownership of undersea coal deposits and began collecting royalties. The Clerk of Penicuik remarked on Lowther’s exceptional financial commitment:

At Whitehaven I observed that Sir Ja. Louder, through sheer financial power, was extracting coal beneath the sea—a feat neither he nor anyone else had attempted before due to ignorance and the enormous wealth required.

Lowther invested heavily—approximately £1,900 before substantial coal production commenced and over £4,500 to achieve full operational capacity. By 1752, more than 250,000 tons had been mined and sold profitably with margins exceeding one shilling per ton. Saltom pit remained operational until 1848.

Managing firedamp

During the sinking of Saltom pit, the encountered blower was reported to the Royal Society by Lowther, who actively sought methods to control firedamp hazards in his mines. A dramatic gas eruption occurred when breaking through a black stone layer into an overlying coal seam; igniting this released a flame nearly two yards high. After extinguishing and enlarging the breach, reignition produced an even more intense flame that was difficult to suppress. The blower was eventually isolated and vented safely to the surface, where it continued burning vigorously for over two and a half years.

Despite these efforts, the Royal Society could not offer practical remedies beyond Carlisle Spedding's observation that "this sort of Vapour... will not take Fire except by Flame; Sparks do not affect it." This led to adopting flint-and-steel ignition methods for safer lighting underground. Spedding invented a "steel mill," which generated sparks by striking flint against a rapidly spinning steel disc. Although this technique required two operators and was physically demanding, it gained widespread use before the introduction of the Davy lamp, with some Tyneside collieries employing up to 100 steel mills daily. However, a fatal firedamp explosion at Wallsend colliery in 1785 was attributed to ignition caused by a steel mill.

Spedding also improved ventilation practices through "coursing the air," enhancing airflow by dividing shafts with partitions and using furnace-induced drafts. He ensured that exhaust air passed through previously mined areas to prevent accumulation of firedamp—a method that became standard across coalfields.

Lowther also backed experimental investigations into firedamp conducted by physician William Brownrigg, who presented his research findings to the Royal Society. Brownrigg’s work received partial funding and logistical support from Lowther, including provision of piped firedamp from his mines for experimental purposes and heating. Brownrigg, hailing from local gentry and later connected by marriage to the Spedding family, was elected FRS but chose not to publish his coal mining research; these documents are now lost.

Harbours

Sir John was instrumental in establishing Whitehaven as a hub for coal exports and actively resisted the development of a competing harbour at Parton, located just north of Whitehaven. Parliamentary opposition to a private bill proposed by Thomas Lamplugh, MP for Cockermouth, which sought to repair Parton's harbour facilities, was orchestrated by James Lowther between 1705 and 1706. However, Sir John passed away while the bill was still under committee review, and James had to attend to family estate matters. Despite this, Lamplugh succeeded in passing the Parton Harbour Act 1705 (4 & 5 Ann. c. 5), which created a board of trustees to oversee Parton harbour, granted authority to construct structures between high and low water marks, and allowed the imposition of tolls on coal shipments.

In 1709, James secured the Whitehaven Harbour Act 1708 (7 Ann. c. 9), which authorized improvements to Whitehaven harbour and permitted toll collection—charging ½d per ton of coal and anchorage fees ranging from 2d to 8d per ton depending on the ship’s origin—to finance these upgrades. A further act in 1711 (10 Ann. c. 17) postponed the reduction of tolls and sanctioned borrowing £1,350 against anticipated revenues to complete the harbour enhancements. The harbour’s administration was entrusted to twenty-one trustees—seven appointed by Lowther himself and fourteen elected by merchants operating in the port—who also managed town infrastructure funded through local domestic rates.

Transport infrastructure advancements included the construction of waggonways connecting coal pits directly to the harbour and a new staith equipped with five spouts allowing ships up to 300 tons to be loaded simultaneously from wagons. This staith also provided storage capacity for up to six thousand tons (Dublin measure).

Despite its limited accessibility and lower-quality coal, Parton remained a minor rival port but was utilized by Lowther for exporting coal from Moresby and Distington mines. Due to neglect, Parton's pier collapsed in 1718, obstructing harbour access until repairs commenced in 1724 after Lamplugh sold his stake to John Brougham, a London-based Commissioner of Excise with investment capital. Subsequently, Lowther obtained a new act establishing trustees empowered to borrow £2,000 for repairs; both Lowther and Brougham contributed half this amount. By 1726, Parton harbour had reopened. Thereafter, Parton functioned as a subsidiary Lowther harbour alongside Whitehaven.

Wealth and frugal lifestyle

By the 1730s, Lowther was considered possibly the wealthiest commoner in England, with annual earnings estimated at approximately £25,000 at his death. He served as a Governor of St Thomas' Hospital and was among the founding Governors of the Foundling Hospital. Additionally, he was the chief benefactor for two new churches built in Whitehaven. Despite his substantial fortune, Lowther led an austere life and became known for his thriftiness, earning the nickname "Farthing Jemmy."

Numerous anecdotes emerged posthumously highlighting his penny-pinching nature: one tale recounts him returning to a coffee house solely to exchange a faulty halfpenny despite his vast wealth; another describes servants discovering £10,000 in banknotes concealed within his clothing and receiving rewards for their honesty. Although these stories lack independent corroboration, they illustrate public perceptions of his careful financial management rather than mere miserliness.

Health

Following in the footsteps of his father Lowther, who endured chronic gout, he suffered intense flare-ups almost every winter starting from 1726. A particularly severe attack in 1750 necessitated the amputation of his right leg. After recuperating and adapting to a wooden prosthetic, Lowther returned to his usual schedule—spending nine months each year in London managing his mining enterprises through correspondence, and the summer months at Whitehaven. He passed away in London in early January 1755 and was interred at Holy Trinity Church in Whitehaven, a church he had a hand in founding in 1715.

Provisions of will

In the autumn of 1754, John Wesley penned a letter to Lowther urging him to increase his personal charitable contributions and encouraged that his fortune be allocated beyond merely perpetuating the Lowther family legacy. The Lowthers of Whitehaven represented a junior branch of an old lineage that regarded wealth as fundamental for preserving social rank. Lowther’s great-grandfather had backed the commercial pursuits of his second son Christopher, which enabled him to acquire the manor of St Bees (including Whitehaven), marry an heiress, serve as High Sheriff of Cumberland, raise a regiment, and attain a baronetcy.

Wesley reproached Lowther for his greed despite his public roles as magistrate and advocate for local Methodists. Lowther replied that charity needed to be balanced with familial obligations and that he preferred public philanthropy. Wesley questioned what kind of legacy he intended to leave that transcended material riches and family honor.

Despite Wesley’s entreaties, Lowther primarily left his estates to other Lowther baronets, providing only small legacies to John Spedding and Carlisle Spedding.

The late Sir James Lowther has bequeathed the majority of his substantial fortune, valued near £600,000, to two distant relatives sharing the Lowther surname. His Cumberland estate, with coal mines yielding £15,000 annually, was left to Sir William Lowther, 3rd Baronet of Marske. Meanwhile, his Westmoreland and Middlesex properties along with investments and mortgages were granted to Sir James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale.

Following Sir William’s death in 1756, the estates he inherited from Sir James Lowther of Whitehaven passed on to Sir James Lowther of Lowther—often referred to as Wicked Jimmy—with whom he is sometimes mistaken.

Works

• Although presented by Lowther, this work was probably written by Carlisle Spedding.