Brownlow North

Brownlow North was born on 17 July 1741 in Chelsea, Middlesex, Great Britain. He was the only son of Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford, and Elizabeth Kaye North. Elizabeth was the only child and sole heir of Sir Arthur Kaye and was previously married to George Legge, Viscount Lewisham, making her the dowager Viscountess Lewisham until her second marriage.

North's maternal half-siblings included Anne, Countess of Cardigan, who married James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan, and William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth. His paternal half-siblings included Frederick North, who later served as Prime Minister of Great Britain. His only full sibling was Louisa North, Lady Willoughby de Broke, who married John Peyto-Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke.

He received education at Eton College from 1752 to 1759 and attended Trinity College, Oxford, where he matriculated on 10 January 1760 as a fellow-commoner. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1762. He became a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, in 1763, obtained his Master of Arts (Oxon) on 4 July 1766, and earned a Doctor of Civil Law in 1770.

North was ordained as a deacon at Christ Church by John Hume, Bishop of Oxford, on 27 October 1765, and as a priest at Grosvenor Chapel, Westminster, by Frederick Cornwallis, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, on 12 April 1767. His family connections facilitated his ecclesiastical career; his father was an influential courtier, and his half-brother Frederick North became Prime Minister.

In 1768, North was appointed to the rectory of Lighthorne through his brother-in-law Willoughby de Broke. The crown also presented him to the 4th prebend at Christ Church on 28 April 1768. He remained a canon of Oxford until his appointment as Dean of Canterbury on 6 October 1770. During his tenure at Canterbury, he held the livings of Lydd and Bexley.

In 1771, North left Canterbury after being elected Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, a position confirmed on 26 August 1771. He was consecrated as a bishop on 8 September 1771 by Archbishop Frederick Cornwallis at Lambeth Palace chapel, with bishops Richard Terrick, Zachary Pearce, and William Markham participating.

He served as Bishop of Lichfield for three years before being elected Bishop of Worcester, with his election confirmed on 27 December 1774. He served in Worcester for approximately six and a half years. Subsequently, he was elected to the See of Winchester, with confirmation on 5 June 1781. He was enthroned at Winchester Cathedral by proxy on 25 June 1781 and served as Bishop of Winchester until his death.

North continued in this position until he died following a long illness at Winchester House, Chelsea, on 12 July 1820. He was buried in Winchester Cathedral on 21 August 1820. His monument there was sculpted by Francis Chantrey.

On 17 January 1771, North married Henrietta Maria Bannister. She died on 17 November 1796. They had at least four daughters and two sons. His eldest son, Francis North, became the 6th Earl of Guilford, and his youngest son, Charles Augustus North, became an Anglican priest. Among his daughters, Henrietta married a priest, and Elizabeth married Thomas de Grey, 4th Baron Walsingham.

North was styled as The Honourable Brownlow North until 1770, when he became The Reverend and Honourable Brownlow North. After his ordination and appointments, he held the titles The Very Reverend and Honourable Brownlow North, and from 1771 onward, The Right Reverend and Honourable Brownlow North until his death.