John Lovelace

John Lovelace, 2nd baron Lovelace, was the second but eldest surviving son of Richard, 1st Lord Lovelace of Hurley and his second wife, Margaret, only daughter and heiress of William Dodsworth, citizen and merchant tailor of the City of London.

At the age of 16 he matriculated from Christchurch College, Oxford, and succeeded to his father’s title and estates, centred on Ladye Place, only two years later. In 1638 he married Lady Anne, daughter and eventual heiress of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland, by whom he had one son and three daughters.

John was a staunch Royalist for what he was declared a delinquent by Parliament on 24th March 1645 and was sent to the Tower of London. He was assessed to pay a fine of £18,373-1s-10d, but after numerous petitions, reviews, abatements and delays, he was successful in getting his sequestration suspended after payment of about only £4,000.

At the Restoration of the Monarchy, Lovelace was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire, from 1660 to 1668, and, on 24th September 1670, steward of the old Royal palace at Woodstock.