John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower

John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower PC (10 August, 1694 – 25 December, 1754) was a British Tory politician, one of the first Tories to enter government in the 18th century. In 1739, he became a founding Governor of London's Foundling Hospital.

He was a son of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower and his wife Catherine Manners. His maternal grandparents were John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland and his third wife Catherine Wriothesley Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden.

He was first married to Lady Evelyn Pierrepont on 13 March, 1711/1712. She was a daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull and his first wife Lady Mary Feilding. Mary was a daughter of William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh and his wife Mary King.

They were parents to eleven children:

*John Leveson-Gower (28 November, 1712 – 15 July, 1723).
*Gertrude Leveson-Gower (15 February, 1714/1715 – 1 July, 1794). She married John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
*William Leveson-Gower (17 February, 1715/1716 – 4 April, 1739).
*Mary Leveson-Gower (b 30 October, 1717 – 30 April, 1778). She married Sir Richard Wrottesley, Baronet.
*Frances Leveson-Gower 12 August, 1720 – 1788). She married Lord John Philip Sackville, a younger son of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset. They were parents to John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset.
*Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford (4 August, 1721 – 26 October, 1803).
*Elizabeth Leveson-Gower (20 January, 1723/1724 – 28 April, 1784). She married John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave.
*Evelyn Leveson-Gower (26 January, 1724/1725 – 14 April, 1763). She married John Fitzpatrick, 1st Earl of Upper Ossory.
*Richard Leveson-Gower (30 April, 1726 – 19 October, 1753). He served as a Member of Parliament.
*Catherine Leveson-Gower (possibly born on 31 May, 1727 and died in infancy).
*Diana Leveson-Gower (31 May, 1727 – 1737).

Evelyn died on 26 June, 1727 and Gower became a widower. He was secondly married to Penelope Stenhouse on 31 October, 1733. She was a daughter of Sir John Stenhouse, 7th Baronet. They were parents to a daughter:
*Penelope Leveson-Gower (June, 1734 – 26 February, 1742).

His second wife died on 19 August, 1734. He then had his third marriage to Mary Tufton on 16 May, 1736. She was a daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and widow of Anthony Grey, Earl of Harold. They were parents to two children:

*Thomas Leveson-Gower (born on 23 August, 1738 but known to have died young).
*John Leveson-Gower 11 July, 1740 – 28 August, 1792). He married Frances Boscawen, daughter of Edward Boscawen. This son served in the Royal Navy and became an Admiral.

In 1742, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Great Britain, and on 8 July 1746, he was created Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham.