Sir John Mowbray (1815-1899) was a British baron and Conservative MP, who tied himself to the North East of England by marriage. Born as Sir John Cornish in London, he attended Westminster School and Oxford University, before his eyes led him up north to a young woman known as Elizabeth Mowbray. Elizabeth was a member of the wealthy Mowbray family of Bishopwearmouth, whose namesake lives on in the city’s central park today.
Eyeing wealth and hereditary influence, John married Elizabeth and taken the unprecedented act of a man changing his name when married to reflect that of the woman’s, subsequently entrenching himself as the holder of the Mowbray family’s wealth. Thus, he was now known as “John Mowbray.”
John pursued a local political career, and became Conservative MP for Durham in 1853, and later represented the seat of Oxford University. Whilst being a member of parliament, Mowbray opened Marine Park in South Shields, tying his legacy to the main parks of both Shields and Sunderland accordingly. Mowbray ultimately went on to become a highly respected parliamentarian who was knighted by Queen Victoria soon became “father of the house”, the oldest serving MP and in turn, received an honorary baronet.
Mowbray died in 1899, in London. A bronze bust was created in his honour which was displayed in Parliament. It is now held by the national archives. Although seemingly a London centric individual, the legacy of the Mowbray family continues to live on in Sunderland.