Earl of Craven

Earl of Craven, in the County of York, is a title that has been created twice.

Two Creations

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. As of 2007 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.

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 Craven (1668–1711)
*William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven (1700–1739)
*Fulwar Craven, 4th Baron Craven (d. 1764)
*William Craven, 5th Baron Craven (1705–1769)
*William Craven, 6th Baron Craven (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 Craven (1770–1825)
*William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven (1809–1866)
*George Grimston Craven, 3rd Earl of Craven (1841–1883)
*William George Robert Craven, 4th Earl of Craven (1868–1921)
*William George Bradley Craven, 5th Earl of Craven (1897–1932)
*William Robert Bradley Craven, 6th Earl of Craven (1917–1965)
*Thomas Robert Douglas Craven, 7th Earl of Craven (1957–1983)
*Simon George Craven, 8th Earl of Craven (1961–1990)
*Benjamin Robert Joseph Craven, 9th Earl of Craven (b. 1989)

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.

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/ www.thepeerage.com]
* [http://website.lineone.net/~david.beamish/index.htm David Beamish's Peerage Page]

ee also

*Baron Craven of Ryton