Crewe-Milnes, Robert Offley, Marquess of Crewe (1858 -1945)

Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes was born 12 January 1858, the only son of Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Lord Houghton, and Annabella Hungerford, daughter of the 2nd Lord Crewe. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College Cambridge. He married in 1880, Sybil Marcia, daughter of Sir Frederic Ulric Graham, Baronet. They had a son who died in his eighth year and three daughters. She died in 1887, and in 1899 he married Margaret Primrose, daughter of Lord Rosebery. In 1883 he was made an assistant private secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. In 1885 his father died and he took his seat in the House of Lords. In 1892, on the return to power of Gladstone’s party, Lord Houghton was appointed Viceroy of Ireland. In 1894, his uncle Lord Crewe died, and on succeeding to the Crewe estates he took the additional surname and arms of Crewe before Milnes. When the government, now under Rosebery, collapsed in 1895, he was created Earl of Crewe. When Campbell-Bannerman came to power in 1905, Crewe became Lord President of the Council. In 1908, he was elected a Knight of the Garter. The same year he was made Secretary of State for the Colonies, and from 1910-1915 Secretary of State for India. In 1911 he was created a Marquess. From 1922-1928 he was Ambassador to Paris. He died 20 June 1945.