Sir Brownlow Cust, 1st Baron Brownlow FSA, FRS, MP (1744 – 1807)

Francis Cotes, RA (London 1726 – London 1770). Oil painting on canvas, Sir Brownlow Cust, 7th Bt, 1st Baron Brownlow FSA, FRS, MP (1744 – 1807) by Francis Cotes RA (London 1726 – London 1770). Three-quarter length portrait of a middle-aged man, turned to the left, and looking over to the right, short natural hair swept backwards, dressed in 'Van-Dyke' costume composed of white satin coat and breeches with a lace collar, and a magenta cloak which is draped over his right shoulder and arm. His left hand rests on his sword hilt. Documented by Elizabeth Cust as being unfinished due to the artists death. Brownlow Cust, 1st Baron Brownlow of Belton was born on 3 December 1744 at Norfolk Street, Westminster. He was the son of Rt. Hon. Sir John Cust, 3rd Bt. (1718-1770) Speaker of the House of Commons and Etheldred Payne (1720-1775). He married, (i) Jocosa Katherina Drury 1748/9-1772), daughter of Lt.-Gen. Sir Thomas Drury, 1st and last Bt.(1712-1759) and Martha Tyrrell (d.1768), on 16 October 1770 at St. George's Church, St. George Street, Hanover Square, London, England and (ii) Frances Bankes (1756-1847), daughter of Sir Henry Bankes and Frances Pembrooke, on 31 August 1775 at St. James' Church, Westminster. He was educated at Eton and graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1766 with an MA. He was MP (Tory) for Ilchester 1768-1774 and Grantham 1774-1776. He was created 1st Baron Brownlow of Belton on 20 May 1776, for his late father's services. He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) on 13 June 1776 and a Fellow of the Royal Society (F.R.S.) on 8 May 1783. His sister, Elisabeth married Philip Yorke I of Erddig in 1770, who had been a friend of his at Cambridge He died on 25 December 1807 at age 63 at Belton and is buried at Belton. Belton House, Lincolnshire (Accredited Museum)