John Craven, 1st Baron Craven of Ryton

Craven was the younger surviving son of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London in 1610 and his wife Elizabeth Whitmore, daughter of William Whitmore.

[1] Craven was elected Member of Parliament in the Long Parliament for Tewkesbury in November 1640 in an election which was declared void on 6 August 1641.

In 1643 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Craven of Ryton by Charles I, who held him in high regard.

[citation needed] Lord Craven of Ryton married Elizabeth, daughter of William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton and granddaughter through her mother Penelope of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, in 1643.

Craven was noted for benevolence, and his will contained numerous charitable bequests.