Carolina Founders - William, Lord Craven





William, Lord Craven


William, Lord Craven (Earl of Craven) (1606-1697), was a devoted follower of the Stuarts. The sums he spent on defending Charles I were enormous. He had a distinguished military career in Germany. He was a patron of the arts and letters, an early member of the Royal Society (for scientific research) and was rewarded by Charles II with many honors and much wealth. He outlived all the other Proprietors and died a bachelor, at the age of almost 87. William, Lord Craven, also called Baron Craven (from 1627 to 1665), was an English courtier known for his long association with the “winter queen” of Bohemia, the English princess, Elizabeth, who was the consort of Frederick V, the elector Palatine. A Royalist during the English Civil Wars, Craven provided considerable financial support for both Charles I and Charles II.