Curwen was a renowned agriculturalist and parliamentarian, born 12th July 1756 in Cumberland.  He was educated at Eton and Cambridge but did not take a degree.  He became MP for Carlisle in 1786, and held the seat until 1812, and again in 1816-20. He represented Cumberland from 1820 until his death. He supported Catholic emancipation, parliamentary reform, and the repeal of the corn laws.

Curwen's interest in agriculture probably dated from a long journey through Europe.  In 1805 he conceived the Workington agricultural society, which had a profound impact on local agriculture in the first half of the nineteenth century. His views on Ireland, where he spent time between 1813 and 1816, are set out in "Observations on the State of Ireland, Principally Directed to its Agriculture and Rural Population" (1818).  He died at Workington Hall on 11th December 1828.