Earl of Craven
Encyclopedia
Earl of Craven, in the County of York, is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England
and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. The first creation came in the Peerage of England
in 1664 in favour of the soldier William Craven, the eldest son of Sir William Craven
, Lord Mayor of London
in 1610. He was made Viscount Craven, of Uffington in the County of Berkshire, at the same time. Both titles were created with remainder to his kinsmen Sir William Craven and Sir Anthony Craven. Craven had already in 1627 been created Baron Craven, of Hamstead Marshall in the County of Berkshire, with remainder to his brothers John (later Baron Craven of Ryton) and Thomas. In 1665 he was also created Baron Craven, of Hamstead Marshall in the County of Berkshire, with remainder to his kinsman Sir William Craven, the son of Thomas Craven, who was the brother of the aforementioned Sir Anthony Craven. Thomas Craven was the grandson of Henry Craven, brother of the aforementioned Sir William Craven, father of the first Earl.
On the Earl of Craven's death in 1697 the barony of 1627 and the viscountcy and earldom became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the barony of 1665 according to the special remainder by his kinsman William Craven, the second Baron. He was the son of the aforesaid Sir William Craven, son Thomas Craven. Lord Craven notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire
. On the death of his younger son, the fourth Baron, the line of the second Baron failed. The late Baron was succeeded by his first cousin, the fifth Baron. He was the son of the Hon. John Craven, younger brother of the second Baron. Lord Craven had earlier represented Warwickshire
in the House of Commons
. On his death the title passed to his nephew, the sixth Baron, the son of Reverend John Craven. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.
His eldest son, the seventh Baron and first Earl, was a Major-General in the Army, and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. In 1801, he was created Viscount Uffington, in the County of Berkshire, and Earl of Craven, in the County of York, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. This first Earl is not entirely forgotten – Harriette Wilson
begins her famous memoir, "I shall not say why and how I became, at the age of fifteen, the mistress of the Earl of Craven." He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
. His son, the third Earl, was briefly Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. His son, the fourth Earl, was a Liberal
politician and served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
in the Liberal administration
of H. H. Asquith
. the titles are held by his great-great-grandson, the ninth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1990 (who in his turn had succeeded his elder brother in 1983).
The courtesy title
of the Earl's eldest son is Viscount Uffington.
The current family seat is Hawkwood House near Waldron, East Sussex. Previous family seats have included Hamstead Marshall
Park and Lodge and Ashdown Park
in Berkshire
, and Coombe Abbey
in Warwickshire
. William Craven, 6th Baron Craven built Craven Cottage
in 1780, later to become the home of Fulham F.C.
Another member of the Craven family was the traveller Keppel Richard Craven
. He was the third and youngest son of the sixth Baron Craven. Also, Louisa, Countess of Craven, wife of the first Earl of the 1801 creation, was a well-known actress.
The heir presumptive
is the present holder's kinsman Rupert José Evelyn Craven (b. 1926). He is the son of Major the Hon. Robert Cecil Craven, second son of the third Earl.
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. The first creation came in the Peerage of England
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
in 1664 in favour of the soldier William Craven, the eldest son of Sir William Craven
William Craven (Lord Mayor of London)
Sir William Craven was an English merchant, Lord Mayor of London in 1610 . It has been suggested that the story of Dick Whittington is based on Craven's career, and he is sometime referred to as "Aptrick's Dick Whittington".-Life:He was the second son of William Craven and Beatrix, daughter of...
, Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1610. He was made Viscount Craven, of Uffington in the County of Berkshire, at the same time. Both titles were created with remainder to his kinsmen Sir William Craven and Sir Anthony Craven. Craven had already in 1627 been created Baron Craven, of Hamstead Marshall in the County of Berkshire, with remainder to his brothers John (later Baron Craven of Ryton) and Thomas. In 1665 he was also created Baron Craven, of Hamstead Marshall in the County of Berkshire, with remainder to his kinsman Sir William Craven, the son of Thomas Craven, who was the brother of the aforementioned Sir Anthony Craven. Thomas Craven was the grandson of Henry Craven, brother of the aforementioned Sir William Craven, father of the first Earl.
On the Earl of Craven's death in 1697 the barony of 1627 and the viscountcy and earldom became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the barony of 1665 according to the special remainder by his kinsman William Craven, the second Baron. He was the son of the aforesaid Sir William Craven, son Thomas Craven. Lord Craven notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire
Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Berkshire:*Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset 1551 – 22 January 1552...
. On the death of his younger son, the fourth Baron, the line of the second Baron failed. The late Baron was succeeded by his first cousin, the fifth Baron. He was the son of the Hon. John Craven, younger brother of the second Baron. Lord Craven had earlier represented Warwickshire
Warwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Warwickshire was a parliamentary constituency in the Warwickshire in England. It returned two Members of Parliament , traditionall known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-Boundaries and franchise:The...
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. On his death the title passed to his nephew, the sixth Baron, the son of Reverend John Craven. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.
His eldest son, the seventh Baron and first Earl, was a Major-General in the Army, and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. In 1801, he was created Viscount Uffington, in the County of Berkshire, and Earl of Craven, in the County of York, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. This first Earl is not entirely forgotten – Harriette Wilson
Harriette Wilson
Harriette Wilson was a celebrated British Regency courtesan, whose clients included the Prince of Wales, the Lord Chancellor and four future Prime Ministers.- Life :...
begins her famous memoir, "I shall not say why and how I became, at the age of fifteen, the mistress of the Earl of Craven." He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. Since 1728, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Warwickshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Warwickshire:*Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick 1569–1570*vacant...
. His son, the third Earl, was briefly Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. His son, the fourth Earl, was a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
in the Liberal administration
Liberal Government 1905-1915
With the fall of Arthur Balfour's Conservative government in the United Kingdom in December 1905, the Liberals under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman were called in to form a government. In the subsequent election, the Liberals won an enormous majority...
of H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
. the titles are held by his great-great-grandson, the ninth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1990 (who in his turn had succeeded his elder brother in 1983).
The courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
of the Earl's eldest son is Viscount Uffington.
The current family seat is Hawkwood House near Waldron, East Sussex. Previous family seats have included Hamstead Marshall
Hamstead Marshall
Hamstead Marshall is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. Although the village name is spelt Hamstead Marshall, the alternative Hampstead Marshall was quite commonly used in the past, and remains the official name of the civil parish...
Park and Lodge and Ashdown Park
Ashdown House, Oxfordshire
Ashdown House is a 17th century country house in the civil parish of Ashbury in the English county of Oxfordshire. Until 1974 the house was in the county of Berkshire, and the nearby village of Lambourn remains in that county....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, and Coombe Abbey
Coombe Abbey
Coombe Abbey is a hotel which has been developed from an historic grade I listed building and former country house. It is located roughly midway between Coventry and Brinklow in the countryside of Warwickshire, England...
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. William Craven, 6th Baron Craven built Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
in 1780, later to become the home of Fulham F.C.
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
Another member of the Craven family was the traveller Keppel Richard Craven
Keppel Richard Craven
Hon. Keppel Richard Craven was a British traveller and dilettante.Craven was the third and youngest son of William Craven and Lady Elizabeth Berkeley, daughter of the 4th Earl of Berkeley...
. He was the third and youngest son of the sixth Baron Craven. Also, Louisa, Countess of Craven, wife of the first Earl of the 1801 creation, was a well-known actress.
Earls of Craven, First Creation (1664)
- William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, 1st Baron Craven (1608–1697)
Barons Craven (1626; Reverted)
- William Craven, 2nd Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 2nd Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 2nd Baron Craven was an English nobleman.He was born in the old house at Benham Park at Speen in Berkshire, the son of Sir William Craven, a grandson of a cousin of the 1st Earl and Baron. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire in 1702, a position he held until his death in...
(1668–1711) - William Craven, 3rd Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 3rd Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 3rd Baron Craven was an English nobleman.He inherited his father's title and estates at the age of only eleven and made his home at Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire. Unfortunately, his great palace there burnt down in 1718 and his dreams of rebuilding it came to nothing. He...
(1700–1739) - Fulwar Craven, 4th Baron CravenFulwar Craven, 4th Baron CravenFulwar Craven, 4th Baron Craven was an English nobleman and sportsman.He was educated at Rugby School and Magdalen College, Oxford...
(d. 1764) - William Craven, 5th Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 5th Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 5th Baron Craven was an English nobleman.He was the son of John Craven of Whitley, Coventry in Warwickshire and succeeded his cousin, Fulwar Craven, as Baron Craven in 1764. He resided at Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire....
(1705–1769) - William Craven, 6th Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 6th Baron CravenWilliam Craven, 6th Baron Craven was an English nobleman.He was the son of Rev John Craven of Staunton Lacy in Shropshire and succeeded his uncle, William Craven, as Baron Craven in 1769...
(1738–1791) - William Craven, 7th Baron Craven (1770–1825) (created Earl of Craven in 1801)
Earls of Craven, Second Creation (1801)
- William Craven, 1st Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1770-1825)Major-General William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven was a British soldier.Craven was the eldest son of William Craven, 6th Baron Craven, and succeeded his father as seventh Baron Craven in 1791. He served in the Army and achieved the rank of major-general...
(1770–1825) - William Craven, 2nd Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 2nd Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven , styled Viscount Uffington until 1825, was a British peer.He inherited the earldom in 1825 from his father, William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven...
(1809–1866) - George Grimston Craven, 3rd Earl of CravenGeorge Craven, 3rd Earl of CravenGeorge Grimston Craven, 3rd Earl of Craven was an English peer and Member of Parliament.He inherited the earldom on 25 August 1866 from his father, William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire....
(1841–1883) - William George Robert Craven, 4th Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 4th Earl of CravenWilliam George Robert Craven, 4th Earl of Craven OBE , styled as Viscount Uffington from 1868 to 1883, was a British peer and Liberal politician....
(1868–1921) - William George Bradley Craven, 5th Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 5th Earl of CravenWilliam George Bradley Craven, 5th Earl of Craven was a British peer and Member of Parliament.He was born 31 July 1897 at Combe Abbey, co. Warwick, England and baptised 26 August 1897 at Binley, near Coventry, co...
(1897–1932) - William Robert Bradley Craven, 6th Earl of CravenWilliam Craven, 6th Earl of CravenWilliam Robert Bradley Craven, 6th Earl of Craven was a British peer.He was the son of William Craven, 5th Earl of Craven, and inherited the earldom in 1932.He was succeeded by Thomas Craven, 7th Earl of Craven....
(1917–1965) - Thomas Robert Douglas Craven, 7th Earl of CravenThomas Craven, 7th Earl of CravenThomas Craven, 7th Earl of Craven was a British peer, styled Viscount Uffington until 1965.He succeeded William Craven, 6th Earl of Craven, to the earldom in 1965. He committed suicide in his mother's house in 1983. He left a legacy to his illegitimate son Thomas Nicholson, while his title passed...
(1957–1983) - Simon George Craven, 8th Earl of Craven (1961–1990)
- Benjamin Robert Joseph Craven, 9th Earl of Craven (b. 1989)
The heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
is the present holder's kinsman Rupert José Evelyn Craven (b. 1926). He is the son of Major the Hon. Robert Cecil Craven, second son of the third Earl.