Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot

Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot, was born on 8 July 1727 in London and died on 17 February 1804 at Port Eliot, Cornwall. He was an English official and politician who served in the House of Commons from 1748 until 1784, after which he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Eliot.

Family Background:

He was the son of Richard Eliot (circa 1694 – 19 November 1748) and Harriot Craggs (circa 1704 – January 1769). Harriot Craggs was the illegitimate daughter of James Craggs (9 April 1686 – 2 March 1721), a Privy Counsellor and Secretary of State, and the actress Hester Santlow. Edward’s sister Anne married Captain Hugh Bonfoy and was known for her beauty, depicted in two portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Another sister, Elizabeth, was married to Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers.

Education and Early Travels:

In 1742, he matriculated at St Mary Hall, Oxford, but did not complete a degree. Between 1747 and 1748, he traveled across Continental Europe, including the Dutch Republic, Germany, and Switzerland.

Inheritance and Political Career:

He succeeded his father on 19 November 1748. From 1748 to 1768, he served as Member of Parliament for St Germans, Cornwall, the seat of his family estate Port Eliot. Subsequently, he was MP for Liskeard (1768–1774), for St Germans again (1774–1775), and for Cornwall (1775–1784). In 1751, he was appointed Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall. Between 1760 and 1776, he served as one of the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations. He resumed the role of Receiver General of the Duchy in 1775. In 1776, he notably voted against the employment of Hessian troops, leading to his resignation from the Board of Trade and Plantations and from the government.

Elevation to the Peerage:

On 13 January 1784, he was ennobled as Baron Eliot, of St Germans in Cornwall, and took his seat in the House of Lords on 2 February 1784. On 15 April 1789, he changed his surname from Eliot to Craggs, per the stipulation in his inheritance of the Craggs estate. He sometimes used the name "Craggs Eliot" and quartered the Eliot arms with those of the Craggs family.

Associations:

He was acquainted with Dr Samuel Johnson and was a friend and patron of Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Family:

On 25 September 1756, he married Catherine Elliston (September 1735 – 23 February 1804), daughter of Captain Edward Elliston and Catherine Gibbon, who was the aunt of historian Edward Gibbon. They had four children:

- Edward James Eliot (9 August 1757 – September 1757)

- Edward James Eliot (24 August 1758 – 17 September 1797)

- John Eliot, 1st Earl of St Germans (30 September 1761 – 17 November 1823)

- William Eliot, 2nd Earl of St Germans (1 April 1767 – 19 January 1845)

He died at Port Eliot and was buried at St Germans, Cornwall.