Sir John Brownlow, 5th Bt, later 1st Viscount Tyrconnel (c.1692-1754)

Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646/9 - London 1723). Oil painting on canvas, Sir John Brownlow, 5th Bt, later 1st Viscount Tyrconnel (c.1692-1754) by Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), signed and dated: lower right: G. Kneller [GK in ligature] /f.1720. A three-quarter length portrait of the uncle of Elizabeth Cust, Mrs Philip Yorke I, wearing peer's robes, his right hand resting on his coronet on a table. Sir John Brownlow, Viscount Tyrconnel (1690-1754), 5th Bt. and son of Sir William Brownlow (1665-1702) and Dorothy Mason (1655?-99/1700). Married (1) Eleanor Brownlow (1691-1730) and (2) Elizabeth Cartwright (d.1780). Created Viscount Tyrconnel and Baron Charleville in 1718 and made Knight of the Order of the Bath in 1725. The gilt must have been taken off the gingerbread by his having to receive the Order of the Bath as an Irish peer, one day after the other recipients. In 1730 after Eleanor's death he wooed the indefatigable letter-writer Mrs Delany who felt that even though 'he had so vast a fortune, a title and was a very good natured man ...money without worth could not tempt her' 'He had the chracter, very justly of being silly, and I would not tie myself to such a companion for an empire'. Sir John was possessed of a driving ambition, but few political skills, and had an inordinately high opinion of his own importance, (an opinion not shared by his family, his colleagues or his peers). His pretensions and his faliure to achieve high office have tended to obscure a more positive side to his character - what one contemporary described as 'his nice taste and his well chosen knowledge' of the arts. It was this nice taste and well-chosen knowledge which were his greatest legacy to Belton. As an Irish peer he was still able to sit in the Commons and he continued to represent Grantham until his retirement in 1741. On the death of his wife's mother Alice Sherard, Lady Brownlow (1659-1721) Belton pased to him and became his main residence. He and his wife patronised the arts and he began to collect Old Masters and adapt Belton to their own taste. However he died without issue and his estates and half his possessions passed to his sister Anne Brownlow, Lady Cust (1694-1779) who instantly moved her family into Belton. Erddig, Wrexham (Accredited Museum)