Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke

Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke (born Richard Aldworth-Neville on 3 July 1750 – died 28 February 1825), was an English politician and peer. He was known by the names Richard Aldworth-Neville and Richard Aldworth Griffin-Neville until 1797.

**Early Life**

He was born in Duke Street, Westminster, as the only son and heir of Richard Neville Aldworth Neville and Magdalen Calandrini. His father was a diplomat and served as Member of Parliament for Reading, Wallingford, and Tavistock. His sibling was a sister named Frances, who married Francis Jalabert. His maternal grandfather was Francis Calandrini, who held the office of syndic (civil magistrate) of Geneva. His paternal grandparents were Richard Aldworth of Stanlake and Catherine Neville, daughter of Richard Neville of Billingbear House.

In August 1762, his father adopted the surname and arms of Neville upon succeeding to the estate of Billingbear following the death of the Countess of Portsmouth, the widow of his maternal uncle Henry Neville Grey. Richard Aldworth-Neville matriculated at Merton College, Oxford, on 20 June 1768. He earned a Master of Arts degree on 4 July 1771, a Doctor of Civil Law on 3 July 1810, and was incorporated as a Doctor of Laws at Cambridge in 1819.

**Career**

In 1779, Neville served as a Lieutenant in the Berkshire Militia. His parliamentary career included representing Grampound from 10 October 1774 until the dissolution in 1780. Following that, he was elected for Buckingham in the subsequent parliament until February 1782, when he was appointed agent to the Buckinghamshire Militia. Later in February 1782, he was returned as MP for Reading, a position he held through the parliaments of 1784, 1790, and 1796.

In May 1797, upon the death of his maternal uncle John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden—whom he had been adopted by as heir—Neville succeeded to the Braybrooke barony. He assumed the surname and arms of Griffin in addition to Neville. He inherited the Audley End estate, though possession was delayed until the death of Dr. Parker in 1802, who was the life tenant through marriage. He expanded his estate by purchasing nearby manors and farms from the Earls of Bristol and Suffolk, among others.

Following his accession to the peerage, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Essex and custos rotulorum of the county on 19 January 1798. He also held several other positions, including vice-admiral of Essex, recorder of Saffron Walden, high steward of Wokingham, hereditary visitor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and provost marshal of Jamaica.

**Personal Life**

On 19 June 1780, Neville married Catherine Grenville at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire. Catherine was the youngest daughter of Prime Minister George Grenville and Elizabeth Wyndham. The couple had six sons and four daughters, including twins who died at birth, with some of their children being:

- Richard Griffin, 3rd Baron Braybrooke (1783–1858), who married Lady Jane Cornwallis.

- Hon. Henry Neville-Grenville (d. 1809), a captain in the dragoons who died serving in Spain after the Battle of Talavera.

- Hon. George Neville-Grenville (1789–1854), Dean of Windsor and Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria; married Lady Charlotte Legge.

- Hon. Caroline Neville-Grenville (d. 1868), married Paul Thompson, 1st Baron Wenlock.

- Hon. Mary Neville-Grenville, married Sir Stephen Glynne, 8th Baronet.

- Hon. Frances Neville-Grenville, who died young.

- Others, including Catherine and William Neville-Grenville, who died young.

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

**References**

This summary incorporates information from the 1894 edition of the Dictionary of National Biography, edited by Sidney Lee.