Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke

Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke (3 July 1750 – 28 February 1825) was an English politician and peer. He was known as Richard Aldworth-Neville or Richard Aldworth Griffin-Neville until 1797.

The Lord Braybrooke
Portrait of Lord Braybrooke, by George Romney
Member of Parliament for Reading
In office
1782–1797
Serving with Francis Annesley
Preceded byJohn Dodd
Francis Annesley
Succeeded byFrancis Annesley
John Simeon
Member of Parliament for Buckingham
In office
1780–1782
Serving with James Grenville
Preceded byJames Grenville
Richard Grenville
Succeeded byJames Grenville
William Grenville
Member of Parliament for Grampound
In office
1774–1780
Preceded byGrey Cooper
Charles Wolfran Cornwall
Succeeded bySir John Ramsden
Thomas Lucas
Personal details
Born
Richard Aldworth

(1750-07-03)3 July 1750
Duke Street, Westminster
Died28 February 1825(1825-02-28) (aged 74)
Billingbear House
Spouse
Catherine Grenville
(m. 1780; died 1796)
Children10, including: Richard Griffin, 3rd Baron Braybrooke
Henry Neville-Grenville
George Neville-Grenville
Mary Glynne
Caroline Thompson, Baroness Wenlock
Parent(s)Richard Neville Aldworth Neville
Magdalen Calandrini
EducationMerton College, Oxford

Early life

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A Grand Tour Group of Five Gentlemen in Rome (c.1773), group portrait attributed to John Brown. To the right of the guide, with a spaniel on his knee, is the future 2nd Baron Braybrooke.[1] The others of the party are: John Staples, James Byres, Sir William Young, 2nd Baronet, and Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton.

Aldworth was born on 3 July 1750 in Duke Street, Westminster. He was the only son and heir of Richard Neville Aldworth Neville and the former Magdalen Calandrini. His father was a diplomat who served as MP for Reading, Wallingford, and Tavistock. His only sibling was sister Frances, who became the wife of Francis Jalabert.

His maternal grandfather was Francis Calandrini, first syndic (or civil magistrate) of Geneva. His paternal grandparents were Richard Aldworth of Stanlake, and the former Catherine Neville (a daughter of Richard Neville of Billingbear House). His father assumed the name and arms of Neville in August 1762, when, on the death of the Countess of Portsmouth (widow of his maternal uncle Henry Neville Grey before her marriage to John Wallop, 1st Earl of Portsmouth), he succeeded to the estate of Billingbear.

He matriculated at Merton College, Oxford, on 20 June 1768, was created M.A. 4 July 1771, D.C.L. 3 July 1810, and was incorporated LL.D. of Cambridge in 1819.[1][2]

Career

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Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke, 1810 engraving

Neville served as a Lieutenant in the Berkshire Militia in 1779.[3] He was Member of Parliament for Grampound from 10 October 1774 till the dissolution in 1780, and for Buckingham in the next parliament till his appointment as agent to the Buckinghamshire Militia in February 1782. On the 21st of the same month he was returned for Reading, and was re-elected there for the three succeeding parliaments (1784, 1790, 1796).[1]

On the death, in May 1797, of his father's maternal uncle John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, by whom he had been adopted as heir, Griffin-Neville succeeded to the Braybrooke barony. He assumed the additional surname and arms of Griffin, and came into possession of the Audley End estate until the death in 1802 of Dr. Parker, son-in-law of the late Baron, who had a life interest in it. Braybrooke increased the property by the purchase of neighbouring manors and farms from the Earls of Bristol and Suffolk, and other acquisitions.

He became Lord Lieutenant of Essex and custos rotulorum of the county immediately after his accession to the peerage (19 January 1798), and was also vice-admiral of Essex, recorder of Saffron Walden, high steward of Wokingham, hereditary visitor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and provost marshal of Jamaica.[1]

Personal life

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On 19 June 1780 Aldworth-Neville married Catherine Grenville at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire. Catherine was the youngest daughter of Prime Minister George Grenville and the former Elizabeth Wyndham (daughter of Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet and sister of Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont). Together, they were the parents of six sons (including twins who died immediately after birth) and four daughters:[1]

Lord Braybrooke died on 28 February 1825, after a lingering illness, at his seat at Billingbear House, and was buried at Laurence Waltham. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest surviving son, Richard.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Lee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Neville, Richard Aldworth Griffin-" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 40. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ^ "Neville, Richard Aldworth Griffin-, Lord Bray-Brooke (NVL819RA)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ Emma Elizabeth Thoyts, History of the Royal Berkshire Militia (Now 3rd Battalion Royal Berks Regiment), Sulhamstead, Berks, 1897/Scholar Select, ISBN 978-1-37645405-5, pp. 104, 301–2.
  4. ^ "The Dowager Lady Wenlock". The York Herald. British Newspaper Archive. 9 May 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 22 July 2014.

Attribution

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainLee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Neville, Richard Aldworth Griffin-". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 40. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Grampound
17741780
With: Hon. Sir Joseph Yorke
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Buckingham
1780–1782
With: James Grenville
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Reading
1782–1797
With: Francis Annesley
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant and
Vice-Admiral of Essex

1798–1825
Succeeded by
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Baron Braybrooke
1797–1825
Succeeded by