Lowther was born on 27 March 1818.
 He was the eldest son of Hon Henry Cecil Lowther and Lady Lucy Sherard.
 His paternal grandfather was William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale and his maternal grandfather was Philip Sherard, 5th Earl of Harborough.

In 1868, he succeeded his uncle William in his Lord Lieutenancies, and in 1872 as Earl of Lonsdale.
Lowther was born on 27 March 1818.  He was the eldest son of Hon Henry Cecil Lowther and Lady Lucy Sherard.  His paternal grandfather was William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale and his maternal grandfather was Philip Sherard, 5th Earl of Harborough.
In 1868, he succeeded his uncle William in his Lord Lieutenancies, and in 1872 as Earl of Lonsdale.
Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale