Sir William Leveson-Gower, 4th Baronet (c. 1647 – 22 December 1691) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

politician from the

Leveson-Gower family Leveson-Gower ( ), also Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, is the name of a historically prominent British noble family. Over time, several members of the Leveson-Gower family were made knights, baronets and peers. Hereditary titles held by the family incl ...

. Born William Gower, he was the second son of

Sir Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet Sir Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet (c. 1605–1672) was an English nobleman, politician, and knight. He was a member of the Leveson-Gower family. He twice served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire and supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil Wa ...

and Frances, daughter and coheir of John Leveson. He added the surname Leveson to his own in 1668, when he inherited the Trentham and

Lilleshall Lilleshall is a village and civil parish in the Telford and Wrekin borough of Shropshire, England. It lies between the towns of Telford and Newport, on the A518, in the Wrekin constituency. There is one school in the centre of the village. ...

estates of his maternal great-uncle, Sir Richard Leveson. Leveson-Gower married Lady Jane Granville (the eldest daughter of the 1st Earl of Bath) and they had five children: *Katherine (1670–?), who married Sir Edward Wyndham, 2nd Baronet, * John Leveson-Gower, later 1st Baron Gower (1675–1709). * Jane (d. 1725), who married the 4th Earl of Clarendon). *Richard (died unmarried) *William (died unmarried),''Burke's Peerage'' (1939 edition), s.v. Sutherland, Duke of. Leveson-Gower inherited his childless nephew's baronetcy in 1689 and on his own death two years later, was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

. Two of Leveson-Gower's well-known direct modern-day descendants are broadcaster

Claire Balding Clare Victoria Balding (born 29 January 1971) is an English broadcast journalist and author. She currently presents programmes for BBC Sport and Channel 4, and previously for BT Sport. She also formerly presented ''Good Morning Sunday'' on BBC ...

and comedian

Miranda Hart Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke (born 14 December 1972) is an English actress, comedian and writer. She has won three Royal Television Society awards, four British Comedy Awards, and four BAFTA nominations for her self-driven semi-autobiographical ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leveson-Gower, Sir William, 4th Baronet 1640s births 1691 deaths Baronets in the Baronetage of England William Leveson-Gower, 4th Baronet English MPs 1661–1679 English MPs 1679 English MPs 1680–1681 English MPs 1681 English MPs 1689–1690 English MPs 1690–1695 Members of the Parliament of England for Newcastle-under-Lyme Year of birth uncertain