William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven

4th Earl of Craven, photographed 27 October 1902.

William George Robert Craven, 4th Earl of Craven OBE (16 December 1868 – 10 July 1921), styled Viscount Uffington from 1868 to 1883, was a British peer and Liberal politician.

Early life

Craven was the eldest son of the 3rd Earl of Craven (1841–1883) and his wife Hon. Evelyn Laura Barrington (1848–1924), the second daughter of George Barrington, 7th Viscount Barrington (1824–1886).

Peerage

He succeeded his father as fourth Earl of Craven in 1883 at the age of fourteen, and later took his seat on the Liberal benches in the House of Lords.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, William, Viscount Uffington upon his death in 1921.

Career

In 1911, he was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in the Liberal administration of H. H. Asquith, a post he held until 1915. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire between 1913 and 1921.

Personal life

On 18 April 1893, Lord Craven married sixteen year-old Cornelia Martin, (1877-1961), the only daughter of a wealthy American banker, Bradley Martin at Grace Church, New York City. The marriage brought him property in Mayfair. They had:

• William Craven, 5th Earl of Craven (1897–1932), who married Mary Williamina George on 14 October 1916.

In 1921, whilst racing at Cowes Week, and although a strong swimmer, Lord Craven fell overboard and drowned at age 52. His body was washed ashore on 12 July 1921.

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven

Coronet A Coronet of an Earl Crest On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Griffin statant wings elevated Ermine beaked and foremembered Or Escutcheon Argent a Fess between six Cross Crosslets fitchée Gules Supporters On either side a Griffin wings elevated Ermine beaked and foremembered Or Motto Virtus In Actione Consistit (Virtue consists in action)

References

• Burke's Peerage & Gentry
• Craven Country by Penelope Stokes

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Craven