Today’s Famous Birthday: 17 December – Elizabeth Craven 1750-1828)

Elizabeth Craven , the daughter of 4th Early of Berkeley was born on 17th December 1750 in London.  She was a writer, playwriter, probably best known for her travel letters A Journey through the Crimea to Constantinople (1789) and Letters from the Right Honorable Lady Craven, to his serene highness the margrave of Anspach, during her travels through France, Germany, and Russia in 1785 and 1786 (1814)

Elizabeth, Baroness Craven, later Margravine of Ansbach, circa 1780–1783, by Ozias Humphry (National Portrait Gallery, London)

Craven was the family name of her first husband,William Craven, 6th Baron Craven (1738-1791)  The couple had seven children, but separated in 1780. As usual in this scandalous century, this story became a sensation too, ((just a little personal note: it’s sad and annoying at the same time, that  during the previous centuries, the life of women, who tried to find the purpuse of their own, somehow always considered scandalous)) and Lady Craven was snubbed even by Marie Antoinette, when she visited France.

A little fun fact for gossip lovers: she had a short affair with Charles Greville, around the time, when he wanted to get rid of his mistress, Emma and sent her to his uncle Sir William Hamilton ( And the rest is history.)  

Elizabeth’s second husband was Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1736-1806). They had an adulterous relationship for years before they married in 1791. (Both Baron Craven and Princess Frederica Caroline of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, wife of the Margrave died that year).  The marriage was morganatic, Elizabeth was granted the title of Princess (Fürstin) Berkeley (reffering to her maiden name). Nevertheless, the couple lived in London, where they were known as Margrave and Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach. 

She wrote her famous travel letters to her second husband (even before their marriage).

After Alexander’s death (1806), she moved to Neaples, where she died in 1828.