The Yellow Earl - Lord Lonsdale Presentation Vesta Case, 1903

Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944) inherited his brother’s earldom in 1882 and launched himself upon London society. He was in the view of King Edward VII’s ‘Almost an emperor, not quite a gentleman’. Both dallied with Lillie Langtry. In 1888 the earl embarked on an expedition to Arctic Canada and nearly lost his life while exploring Alaska. While in New York he knocked-out the reigning heavyweight champion of the world John L. Sullivan. He was the master of five hunts, a founder member and first President of the National Sporting Club, and the donor the original Lonsdale Belts for the boxing in 1909. Moreover his enthusiasm for all things sporting saw him become a Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, first President of the International Horse Show at Olympia and Chairman then Honorary President of Arsenal football club. His skill as a yachtsman brought him into the orbit of Kaiser Wilhelm II whose yacht Meteor he raced at Cowes Royal Regatta in 1896, taking 17 out of 22 prizes. His friendship with the Kaiser strained relations with the King, whom he upstaged by hosting the former at Lowther Castle immediately after a state visit to Windsor.