Matthew Crawley

## Mr.Matthew Crawley, Esq.

 Mr. Crawley
 Matthew
 Cousin Matthew
 Defender of the Downtrodden (by Rose Aldridge)
 My dear chap (by Robert Crawley)
 Darling (by Mary Crawley)
 My dear (by Isobel Crawley)

Peter Pelham, Earl of Brancaster
Lord Theodore Pelham
Arthur Crawley, Viscount Downton
Lord Benedict Crawley
 Lord Christopher Crawley
Lady Diana Crawley
Lord Edmund Crawley

### Relatives

Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham † (third cousin once removed/father-in-law)
 Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham † (third cousin once removed-in-law/mother-in-law)

Richard Grey, Lord Merton (stepfather)
 Hon. Larry Grey (stepbrother)
 Hon. Timothy Grey (stepbrother)
 Hon. Amelia Grey (stepsister-in-law)
 Patrick Crawley, 6th Earl of Grantham † (second cousin twice removed/grandfather-in-law) †
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham † (second cousin twice removed-in-law/grandmother-in-law)
Mr. John Turnbull (maternal grandfather)
Mr. Edward Turnbull (maternal uncle)
Lady Rosamund Painswick (third cousin once removed/aunt-in-law))
Mr. Marmaduke Painswick † (martial uncle-in-law)
 Miss Delilah Mellark (marital aunt-law)
Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham (paternal fourth cousin/sister-in-law)
 Lady Sybil Branson (paternal fourth cousin/sister-in-law) †
 Alexander Crawley, 8th Earl of Grantham paternal fourth cousin/brother-in-law)
Mr. Tom Branson (brother-in-law/fourth cousin-in-law)
 Herbert Pelham, Marquess of Hexham (brother-in-law/fourth cousin-in-law)
 Josephine Crawley, Countess of Grantham (sister-in-law/fourth cousin-in-law)
 Mrs. Martha Levinson † (grandmother-in-law)
 Mr. Isidore Levinson † (grandfather-in-law) †
 Mr. Harold Levinson (uncle-in-law)

## Affiliations

### Occupation

Co-Owner of Downton Abbey (1920-1921)
 Lawyer

### Loyalty

Mary Crawley
 Isobel Grey
 Alexander Crawley
Crawley Family
 Downton Abbey

## Coat of Arms

Arms of Mr. Matthew Crawley (1885-1921)

**Mr. Matthew Crawley** (b. 11 August, 1885 - d. 21 September, 1921) was a lawyer from Manchester and the only child and son of the late Doctor Reginald Crawley and of his wife, Isobel. By his father, he was a distant relative of the Earls of Grantham and became the heir presumptive to the Earldom from 1912 until the birth of his cousin Alexander in December 1914. He was a prominent member of the Crawley Family—through both birth and marriage.

## Biography

* Early Life
* Heir of Downton
* Relationships

Matthew was born in 1885. He grew up in Manchester, Lancashire, as the son of an upper middle class doctor. He was educated at Radley College and then went on to Oxford where he studied law. When his father died in 1905, he lived with his mother while working as a solicitor specializing in industrial law.

He was the third cousin-once-removed of Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham. His great-great-grandfather was the younger son of the third Earl of Grantham. His late father, **Reginald Crawley**, was a medical doctor who had done research on infections in children. **Reginald Crawley** trained, along with his future brother-in-law, **Sir Edward Turnbull**, under Matthew's maternal grandfather, **Sir John Turnbull**, who was also a medical doctor. His mother trained as a nurse during the Anglo-Boer War.

He got a letter from Robert in 1912 that informed him that he was to be the heir of the Earldom of Grantham and Downton Abbey and would, eventually, be the 8th Earl of Grantham. He and his mother arrived at Downton Village in September 1912. After they moved to the Crawley House, he found a job at a law firm in Ripon: Harvell and Carter.

The eldest daughter of Lord Grantham, Lady Mary Crawley, was less than pleased with Matthew's arrival. As a woman, she could not inherit the estate and title, so originally it had been planned for her to marry the previous heir, Patrick Crawley, but he drowned on the Titanic. Though she did not love Patrick, she had been raised around him and at least thought him of a better class than the distinctly middle-class Matthew. Matthew and Mary's relationship is further complicated by the fact that the first time they meet she overhears him referring to the possibility of the Crawley family's throwing one of their daughters at him, thus she initially resented and disliked him, assuming that he was arrogant—even referred to him once as a "sea monster."

As he had been raised middle class and saw no need for servants to do everything for someone. Over time, Matthew came to accept his life in Downton, though he was initially reluctant to admit that his life had changed. However, he came to help Robert run the estate while working, and grew to accept his fate.

Although Matthew is taken with Mary from first sight, he slowly tries to build a friendship with her. As the months progress in 1913 and 1914, their relationship matures, and Mary slowly falls in love with Matthew. He eventually proposes in 1914, but Mary decided to wait to give him an answer. Matters were further complicated by the fact that Cora, became pregnant. If the baby were to be a boy, Matthew would be displaced as heir. On August 1914, and Mary still hasn't given an answer. Shattered, Matthew on the verge of tears, retracts his proposal and walks away broken-hearted.

The baby was eventually born—it was a boy. And while Matthew was equally overjoyed at the birth of his cousin Alexander, he knows that he is no more the heir, and that Mary wouldn't accept him, now more than ever.

After the Great War, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham and Sir Richard Carlisle believed that Mary was getting too close to Matthew, so Cora invited Lavinia to Downton under the pretense that Matthew had wished it.

When Matthew broached the subject of their relationship with Mary, he said he could not father an heir while Sir Richard could give her children. Later, Lavinia informed Matthew that she was still in love with him and would take care of him, no matter what, which touched him greatly. Lavinia was willing to sacrifice her life because of her deep love for him, no matter what.

Whilst alone in the library, Lavinia went to remove a tray of tea cups, but tripped over a footstool, this prompted a wheelchair-bound Matthew to stand up by reflex and grab her arm, to stop her from falling and injuring herself. His standing stunned both of them. Whilst most people in the house were happy with Matthew's recovery, Sir Richard had become worried that Mary would now leave him for Matthew. Doctor Clarkson also revealed that he had been cautious with Matthew's diagnosis because he hadn't wanted to give him false hope about walking. Matthew then announced he would marry Lavinia after all.

As he recovered, Matthew used a cane to walk and remained at Downton Abbey, rather than Crawley House with his mother, slowly learning to walk himself down the wedding aisle. However, Violet visited him in his room and informed him that Mary was still in love with him, and she wanted him to marry her instead of Lavinia. Violet warned him that "divorce" was not an option for someone in his position, and said he should think very carefully. Matthew, despite loving Mary, believed it was his duty to marry the caring Lavinia since she wished to marry him despite his being a cripple and impotent.

By April 1919, Matthew was getting ready for his marriage to Lavinia, however the Spanish Influenza epidemic had by then reached Downton and Charles Carson, Cora and Lavinia were infected with the disease, as well as others. Initially, Cora was the one who was extremely ill, whilst Lavinia appeared only to have a mild case, and rested at Downton after excusing herself from dinner. Whilst she rested, Matthew tested the gramophone they had been given as a wedding present and invited Mary to join him for a dance. While they were dancing, they discussed their relationship. Matthew then apologized for rescinding his proposal, told her about Violet confronting him and confided that he was marrying Lavinia out of duty and implied he was still in love with her. They then kissed whilst unbeknownst to them, Lavinia stood on the stairs behind them. Lavinia then announced herself, feigned ignorance of their discussion and headed back to bed

Due to the illness in the house, Lavinia and Matthew postponed their wedding. Lavinia did not want her father to come either, as he had a weak chest and Spanish Flu would put his health in danger. As Lavinia lay, appearing only slightly ill, with Matthew beside her, she confronted him about what she had heard and told him that she loved him, but did not wish to marry him since he loved Mary. She also stated that she was a "small person" and realized the Downton estate and title were enormous, and that she did not want to be "Queen of the County." Matthew was stunned by this and tried to make her reconsider, but she asked him to leave as she was tired. Matthew did so, but wished to continue the discussion at a later time.

Only a brief time later, as Matthew was eating dinner, Sybil rushed in to inform him that Lavinia's condition had worsened considerably. The illness had settled in her lungs, making it incurable. The family rushed to her bedside, where Lavinia told Matthew that it was better this way because "he won't have to make a hard decision" (whether to marry her or Mary) and that she just wanted him to be happy. She then died, as Matthew tried to reassure her and hold her hand. After her funeral, Matthew revealed to Mary that Lavinia had seen and heard them before her death. He believed that she died of a broken heart and that they were the cause. He called their relationship "cursed" and stated that they could never be together. Crushed but understanding, Mary accepted Sir Richard's offer to walk her home
* Marriage and Children
* Death

Only a few months later in the Spring of 1920, Matthew's marriage to Mary was soon to take place, when he received news that he may be the heir to the fortune of Reggie Swire. He believed that he had played a part in Lavinia's death, that he had broken her heart and her will to live when she was sick with Spanish Flu. Matthew did not want to accept the sizeable inheritance, a decision which Mary somewhat initially agreed with.

As the wedding plans moved along, Robert Crawley learnt that all of the estate's money, including Cora's fortune, had been lost in his bad investment with a Canadian railroad company, and he informed Mary. Mary believed that the money Matthew may inherit could save the estate, but, as Matthew does not want to take it, they argue. Mary felt that this was a fundamental difference in their personalities, and mulls over cancelling her wedding. Thanks to Anna and Tom—now Sybil's husband, they reconciled and finally married the following day after a eight year on-and-off courtship.

Mary becomes pregnant in January 1921—and in September of 1921, whilst eight months along, she and Matthew went with her family and a few servants to visit their relatives at Duneagle Castle in Scotland. Matthew and Robert were both very concerned with Mary's condition, particularly because of what happened to Sybil, and wanted her to stay home, Carson was also worried of the safety of Mary, but she insisted.

An outing in a carriage and a dance at a ball caused Mary to feel unwell and decide to head home. Matthew insisted upon coming with her, but Mary promptly refused because she said it would be rude to Hugh and Susan to leave, and she wanted Matthew to enjoy himself before fatherhood arrived. Upon arrival at the train station, Mary goes into labor and Anna and the driver take her directly to the hospital. Anna informs Carson, who gets word to Duneagle to return home as soon as possible by train.

While Matthew's mother Isobel Crawley was comforting her during labour, Mary told her "she only feels half herself without Matthew there." Carson informs the chauffeur to bring Matthew's car to the train station and to leave it there, so when he gets off the train, he can drive himself directly to the hospital. Although the baby was three weeks early, Mary safely gives birth to their son—later to be named George Crawley. While Mary was holding their still unnamed baby, Matthew appears at the door asking her if a "hot and dusty traveller" could come in. Matthew is overjoyed with happiness, telling Mary that "he's dancing a jig" and felt as though "he's swallowed a box of fireworks." He tells Mary she will be a wonderful mother, and that she would be "his Mary for all eternity" and that he "loves her more and more every day."

On his drive back to Downton to tell the family about his son, a happy and proud Matthew was speeding and not paying attention to the road, instead looking at the trees on the right. Down a small hill to the left side, a small delivery truck was coming towards Matthew and he swerved to the left, at the last second, to avoid hitting the truck head-on.

His car overturned on top of him and Matthew appeared to have suffered from an intense blow to his head, as blood slowly trickled down his face. He died instantly at the age of 36, while his wife still held their son in hospital, unaware he was dead.
## Appearance

Although Matthew was a handsome-looking man, his wife Mary initially resented and disliked him on their first meeting, assuming that he was arrogant—even referred to him once as a "sea monster."

He had blonde hair and bright blue eyes, both features were inherited by his son George.

## Personality

Matthew was a good and kind man who often did what he did for the sake of others rather than himself. While in the beginning he was uncomfortable with his sudden change of life, going from an upper-middle class lawyer of Manchester to the new heir of Downton, it took to Matthew not much time to adapt to his new life. Although he felt he was a stranger in the family due to being a distant relative of Robert and his family who was trespassing them, he eventually became another member of the Crawleys, bonding with most of them—but specially with Robert, Mary, and Alex.

He was very much close with Alex ever since the latter's birth, having no hard feelings at the child at all—unlike his mother, as she knew her son is now demoted to third in-line to the Earldom. The two of them became the Viscount's godparents, and built their close bond as Alex grew up. The Viscount looks up to him, and became one of the child's closest confidants—dubbing him as "the older brother he never had."

As a lawyer, Matthew was very intelligent and clever. Mary once said to Rosamund that he could become Lord Chancellor if he wanted and most of the time he demonstrated to be advanced to their era, doing a complete reconstruction of the cottages of Downton which would allow the farmers and the rest of workers to have a place to live near to where they work. He also was the master mind of Downton's modernization after realizing the state was being mismanaged in order to prevent another financial crisis like they had previously that was resolved only because he used the money he got from Reginald Swire and invested in the estate.

Since he never had privileges and having to work very hard to become a lawyer, Matthew sometimes acted out of "label", such as refusing to let Moseley do his work as a valet helping him to dress, eat or drink, However, after a conversation with Robert, Matthew fully accepted their style of life, although he never saw himself as an aristocrat. Since he wasn't born on a wealthy family he was more cautious and realistic about the management of finances, after the war he was aware that nothing was before and Downton should be managed more carefully and avoid too much expenses, something that Robert refused to admit due to living in a time where his money was more than enough to keep Downton intact and where they could hire more servants with little concern about the money it would be spent on that person.

Unlike his cousin Robert, who was aware times were changing but mostly relied on his old traditions, Matthew was more open-minded and tolerant. He was also very supportive and loyal to those he cared about. After Lavinia died, Matthew felt very guilty and responsible of her death because shortly before she saw him and Mary dancing and sharing a passionate kiss, he also initially refused to accept the inheritance Reggie (Lavinia's father) gave him, feeling that he wouldn't be different from a thief who steals someone's money and his values made him unable to do so until Mary convinced him when they learned the letter he got was genuine. He was also the only one with Mary that helped Tom to be accepted on the family becoming close friends, asking Tom to be his best men for his wedding and supporting him on his decision to baptize his daughter as a Catholic. Like he said to Rose, Matthew saw himself as a defender of the downtrodden, helping her to get out of trouble by asking her politely to return from the club she was to her aunt Rosamund's house.

Much like the rest of the family treated all the staff members as equals since he felt he wasn't different from them. While at his arrival to Downton most of the staff were unsure to accept him as the new heir due to being a complete stranger to all of them, they eventually came to see him as part of the family with Carson saying to Mary that they were all very fond to Matthew.

## Name Etymology

* **Matthew** is male name of Hebrew origin, meaning *"gift of God"*.
	+ He shares the name with his son, George.
* **Reginald** is male name of English origin, meaning *"counsel power"*.
	+ He was named after his father, Reginald.