William Brownlow 1665-1701

Sir William BROWNLOW or BROWNLOWE, 4th bart 1665-1701

The smaller of Sir William Brownlow's bookplates (British Museum Franks *165)

Biographical Note

Second son of Sir Richard Brownlow, 2nd bart, of Humby, Lincolnshire; he inherited the baronetcy and estate at Belton, Lincolnshire from his elder brother Sir John Brownlow, 3rd bart. Matriculated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge 1680, but did not graduate; entered the Inner Temple 1684. MP for Peterborough 1689-98, for Bishop's Castle 1698-1700.

Books

The library at Belton House was continuously developed from the time of Richard Brownlow (1553-1638) onwards, and contains books associated with many subsequent generations. Its growth largely took place during the 18th century (there were ca.1300 books there by 1730), but there are numerous books at Belton today which can be associated with this Sir William. An engraved armorial bookplate dated 1698 was made both for him and for his wife Dorothy, in two sizes (Franks 4115-5/*134/*165).

Sources

• History of Parliament.
• Brundin, A. & D. Roberts, Book-buying and the grand tour: the Italian books at Belton House, The Library 7th ser 16 (2015), 51-79.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J . Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
• Hoare, P. The perils of provenance, Library History 18 (2002), 225-34.
• Purcell, M., The English country house library, New Haven and London, 2017, 77.