Thomas Lowndes

Background

Thomas Lowndes was born in Cheshire, England, United Kingdom in 1692, into family of Cheshire landowners.

Career

Little is known of his life—unless the residence in France and Holland, to which he alludes in the same letter, be referred to this period—until 1725. On September 27 of that year he received from the lords proprietors the patent of provost-marshal of South Carolina, along with a grant of the four baronies necessary, according to Locke's ‘Constitutions, ’ to the dignity of landgrave. From the outset he advocated a policy of vigorous reprisals against Spain for the protection afforded the Indians in their harassing attacks upon the English settlers. He never visited the colony, entrusting his duties to a deputy, but he was the first to point out the advantages Port Royal offered for the obstruction of Spanish navigation.

In 1727 Lowndes claimed to have taken a prominent part in inducing the British government to purchase Carolina, but he surrendered his patent when the transfer of the colony to the crown was completed. Lowndes' patent was renewed in 1730, but he resigned it in 1733. Then he brought various impractical schemes before the government to check the illicit trade in wool between Ireland and France; to regulate the paper currency of New England.

Achievements

• Thomas Lowndes was known for the foundation of the Lowndean professorship of astronomy and geometry.

Connections

Father:

LOWNDES

Mother:

LOWNDES