John Whitwell, 4th Baron Howard de Walden

The Lord Howard de Walden
Born	13 March 1719 Oundle, Northamptonshire
Died	25 May 1797 (aged 78) Audley End, Essex
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Field Marshal
Battles/wars	War of the Spanish Succession Seven Year's War
Awards	Knight of the Order of the Bath

Field Marshal John Griffin Whitwell, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, 1st Baron Braybrooke, KB (13 March 1719 – 25 May 1797) was a British nobleman and soldier.

Military career

Born at Oundle in Northamptonshire and educated at Winchester College, Whitwell was commissioned as an ensign in the 3rd regiment of Foot Guards in 1739.

He served in the Netherlands and Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession from 1740 to 1748.

He became Member of Parliament for Andover in 1749. His aunt Elizabeth, Countess of Portsmouth agreed to leave him her interest in Audley End if he changed his surname to Griffin: he did so in 1749, by Act of Parliament, becoming John Griffin Griffin.

He also served in the Seven Year's War from 1756. He was briefly Colonel of the 50th Regiment of Foot in 1759 and was promoted to Major-General that same year.

He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 33rd Regiment of Foot in 1760 and promoted to lieutenant-general in 1761. He was also appointed KB in 1761 and promoted to full general in 1778.

He was Colonel of the 1st Troop, Horse Grenadier Guards from 1766 and of the 4th Dragoons from 1788.

The Barony of Howard de Walden was called out of abeyance in his favour on 3 August 1784. He was additionally created 1st Baron Braybrooke in 1788. He was made a field marshal on 30 July 1796. He died at Audley End in 1797.

Family

In 1749 he married Anna Maria Schutz and in 1765 he married Catherine Clayton.

References

•  "Griffin, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Viscount Lymington	Member of Parliament for Andover 1749 – 1784 With: John Pollen III Sir Francis Blake Delaval Benjamin Lethieullier	Succeeded by William Fellowes
Military offices
Preceded by Studholme Hodgson	Colonel of the 50th Regiment of Foot 1759–1760	Succeeded by Edward Carr
Preceded by Lord Charles Hay	Colonel of the 33rd Regiment of Foot 1760–1766	Succeeded by The Earl Cornwallis
Preceded by Viscount Cantelupe	Captain and Colonel of the 1st Troop Horse Grenadier Guards 1766–1788	Troop abolished
Preceded by Benjamin Carpenter	Colonel of the 4th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Dragoons 1788–1797	Succeeded by Sir Robert Sloper
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl Waldegrave	Lord Lieutenant of Essex 1784–1797	Succeeded by The Lord Braybrooke
Vacant Title last held by The Earl of Rochford	Vice-Admiral of Essex 1795–1797	Vacant Title next held by The Lord Braybrooke
Peerage of England
Preceded by James Howard	Baron Howard de Walden 1784–1797	Succeeded by Frederick Hervey
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation	Baron Braybrooke 1788–1797	Succeeded by Richard Griffin