William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, 1st Baron Craven
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The 1st Earl of Craven.

William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, PC (June 1608 – April 9, 1697) was an English nobleman and soldier. His father William Craven was born in a poor family in Appletreewick in North Yorkshire but moved to London, became wealthy, and was Lord Mayor of London in 1610.^[1][2]

Craven fought for Frederick V on the Continent and fell in love with his wife, Elizabeth of Bohemia. Still being absent during the English Civil War, he supported this lady's brother, Charles I, financially rather than in person and, therefore, had all his lands - largely in Berkshire - confiscated. After the Restoration, he set about planning to build a vast palace for Elizabeth at Hamstead Marshall, but she died before construction began.

An older Craven.

References

• Ford, David Nash (2001). Royal Berkshire History: William Craven, Earl of Craven (1608-1697)

Further reading

• Smuts, R. Malcolm (2004). "Craven, William, earl of Craven (bap. 1608, d. 1697)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved on 2008-08-23.