Craven was born on 31 July 1897 at Combe Abbey, Warwickshire and was baptized by the Archbishop of York on 27 August 1897.

[6] Craven "attained his majority in 1918, when his father paid all of his then existing debts",[7] but by September 1919 he was bankrupt with "unsecured liabilities" of £13,610 to assets of only £302.

[10] In 1925, Lady Craven sued the Earl for divorce and named Vera, Countess Cathcart, as the woman in the case.

[11][12] "While the Countess was held at Ellis Island, a writ for his arrest was issued, but he departed for Canada in time to prevent its being served.

His wife joined him in Canada, and they left together for Bermuda,"[6] with Lord Craven denying he was ever "guilty of any moral turpitude".