The Earl of Craven | |
|---|---|
 Craven in 1916 | |
| Born | William George Bradley Craven 31 July 1897 |
| Died | 15 September 1932 (aged 35) |
| Education | Eton College |
| Spouse | Mary Williamina George (m. 1916) |
| Children | 6th Earl of Craven |
| Parent(s) | 4th Earl of Craven Cornelia Martin |
| Relatives | Bradley Martin (grandfather) |
William George Bradley Craven, 5th Earl of Craven (31 July 1897 – 15 September 1932) was a British peer.
Craven was born on 31 July 1897 at Combe Abbey, Warwickshire and was baptized by the Archbishop of York on 27 August 1897. [1] He was the only child of William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven (1868–1921), [2] and his American wife, Cornelia Martin (1877–1961). [3] [4]
His paternal grandparents were George Craven, 3rd Earl of Craven and Lady Evelyn Barrington (the second daughter and co-heiress of George Barrington, 7th Viscount Barrington). His mother was the only daughter of Bradley Martin and his wife Cornelia, who were famed as the hosts of the Bradley-Martin Ball. [5]
Craven was educated at Eton College. [6]
Craven "attained his majority in 1918, when his father paid all of his then existing debts", [7] but by September 1919 he was bankrupt with "unsecured liabilities" of £13,610 to assets of only £302. [7] He inherited the earldom at age 23 upon the accidental drowning of his father William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven on 9 July 1921. [2]
The 5th Earl served during the World War I as a Lieutenant with the 3rd Bn. Royal Hampshire Regiment and was wounded in action, [8] losing a leg and sustaining a serious arm injury. [6]
At one time, Lord Craven was mentioned as a possible successor to Lord Byng as Governor-General of Canada. [6]
On 14 October 1916, when known by the courtesy title Viscount Uffington, he married Mary Williamina George, daughter of William George, the town clerk of Invergordon. [8] Together they had one son:
In 1922, shortly after inheriting the earldom, Lord Craven was named in the divorce suit between George Cathcart, 5th Earl Cathcart and Lady Cathcart, the former Vera Estelle Warter. Lord Cathcart obtained a "decree dissolving his marriage with Lady Cathcart, upon proof being given of her indiscretions with the Earl of Craven". [9] Eighteen months after the Cathcart divorce, the Countess eloped to South Africa with Lord Craven. [10] In 1925, Lady Craven sued the Earl for divorce and named Vera, Countess Cathcart, as the woman in the case. [10] In 1926, Lord Craven and Lady Cathcart were again the centre of controversy when arriving to the United States. [11] [12] "While the Countess was held at Ellis Island, a writ for his arrest was issued, but he departed for Canada in time to prevent its being served. His wife joined him in Canada, and they left together for Bermuda," [6] with Lord Craven denying he was ever "guilty of any moral turpitude". [13] [14]
Lord Craven died on 15 September 1932 of peritonitis at Pau, France, at the age of 35. [6] He was succeeded by his son, William Robert Bradley Craven, 6th Earl of Craven, upon his death on 15 September 1932. [15] The Earl and Countess stayed married and she survived him by 42 years, dying in 1974. [8]
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