UK Cigar Scene Magazine January Issue 13 | Page 17

In a lifetime of studying the habits and habitats,
eccentricities and antics of the British Aristocracy,
I have seldom come across any character as
amusing, entertaining, eccentric, or as profligate as
Hugh Lonsdale.
The best known of the Earls of Lonsdale, and
perhaps the most famous English Lord in the
world in his time, Hugh Cecil Lowther was born
on 25th January, 1857.
The 2nd Earl was still alive when Hugh was born,
and he was very much a part of Society.
His ancient lineage, high rank and his important
political offices, and above all, his immense
personal fortune made his position secure, and he
was to live for another fifteen years after Hugh was
born, to enjoy his two favourite sports, of hunting
and entertaining actresses.
When he died, in the arms of a well-known
opera singer, he was succeeded by his nephew,
Hugh Lonsdale’s father – but Hugh and his two
younger brothers, Charles and Lancelot, knew
the likelihood of their ever succeeding to the
spectacular family fortunes remained remote.

In fact, so unconsidered was Hugh’s chance of
succession that his father could not be persuaded
to bother to educate him properly, and whilst
his elder brother, St George was being carefully
groomed for a gilded future, Hugh spent most
of his time in the stable yard of the family home
at Asfordby, or running wild in the surrounding
countryside.
As a penniless, wayward, younger son who had not
expected to inherit, Hugh had joined a travelling
circus for a year after leaving Eton, and travelled
to America, spending months buffalo-hunting,
and had pawned his birthright to make his fortune
from cattle ranching in Wyoming. When the
scheme failed, the family trustees bought back
his inheritance rights, and allowed him to live at
Lowther.
Hugh’s resentment of his incredibly rich elder
brother became an obsession, and he desperately
tried to outdo him, which led to a series of
scandals which caused many of the desirable
doors in Society, to be closed to him, and he was
almost reduced to bankruptcy.

Hugh Lowther, who unexpectedly became the 5th Earl of Lonsdale and Lowther Castle which he
inherited along with the title

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