Alexander Crawley

## The Right Honourable8th Earl of Grantham

 Lord Grantham
 Your Lordship
 Lord Downton (formerly)
 Alexander
 Uncle Alex
 Lord Uncle (by Johnny Bates)
 Cousin Alex
 Papa (by his children)
 Darling (by his wife and his parents)
 The Little Prince of Downton (by his sisters)
 Stupid Idiot (by his wife)
Mr. Levinson (alias)

Miss Caroline Talbot
Peter Pelham, Earl of Brancaster
Master William Lewis
Lord Theodore Pelham
Master Archie Lewis
Master George Lewis
Master Douglas Lewis
Miss Margaret Lewis
Master Colin Lewis
Master Robert Lewis

 Mr. James Lewis (brother-in-law)
 Mr. Jacob Lewis (brother-in-law)
 Patrick Crawley, 6th Earl of Grantham † (paternal grandfather)
 Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham † (paternal grandmother)
 Lady Rosamund Painswick (paternal aunt)
 Mr. Marmaduke Painswick † (paternal uncle by marriage, via Rosamund)
 Miss Delilah Mellark (paternal aunt by partnership, via Rosamund)
 Mr. Isidore Levinson † (maternal grandfather)
 Mrs. Martha Levinson † (maternal grandmother)
 Mr. Harold Levinson (maternal uncle)
 Mr. Matthew Crawley † (brother-in-law, via Mary/godfather)
 Mr. Henry Talbot (former brother-in-law, via Mary)
 Herbert Pelham, Marquess of Hexham (brother-in-law, via Edith)
 Mr. Tom Branson (brother-in-law, via Sybil)
Lady Augusta Lewis (marital sister-in-law, via James)
Hon. Brianna Lewis (martial sister-in-law, via Jacob)
 George, 8th Duke of Argyll † (marital grandfather-in-law)
Grace, Duchess of Argyll † (marital grandmother-in-law)
 Archibald, 9th Duke of Argyll (marital uncle-in-law)
Lord Ian Campbell (marital uncle-in-law)
George Campbell, Marquess of Lorne (martial first cousin-in-law once-removed)
 Lord Charles Campbell (martial first cousin-in-law once-removed)
 Lord Colin Campbell (martial first cousin-in-law once-removed)
 Lord Douglas Campbell (marital uncle-in-law)
Lord Ian Torquhil Campbell (martial first cousin-in-law once-removed)
Lord George Granville Campbell (martial first cousin-in-law once-removed)
Lord Duncan Campbell (martial first cousin-in-law once-removed)
Mr. William Lewis † (marital grandfather-in-law)
Mrs. Louisa Lewis † (marital grandmother-in-law)
 Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire (paternal first cousin once removed)
 Hugh MacClare, Marquess of Flintshire (paternal first cousin-in-law once removed)
 Rose Aldridge, Lady Sinderby (paternal second cousin)
 Atticus Aldridge, Lord Sinderby (paternal second cousin-in-law)
 Hon. Victoria Rachel Cora Aldridge (paternal second cousin once removed)
 Hon. Hugh Daniel Atticus Aldridge (paternal second cousin once removed)
 Hon. Robert Alexander David Aldridge (paternal second cousin once removed)
 Maud, Lady Bagshaw (paternal second cousin once removed)
 Mrs. Lucy Branson (née Smith) (paternal second cousin twice removed)

## Affiliations

### Occupation

Art History Professor, Oxford University
 Co-Owner, Downton Estate
 Manager, Downton Estate

### Loyalty

Downton Abbey
 Crawley Family

 The Fellowship
 Cora Crawley
 Josephine Crawley
 Cora Harrison
 Mrs. Hughes
 Thomas Barrow
 Anna Bates

## Fan Cast

### Portrayed By

Lucas Jade Zumann (younger)
 Aaron Taylor-Johnson (older)

Alex Crawley, circa 1927

## Coat of Arms

Arms of Alexander, Viscount Downton (1914-1932)

Arms of the Rt. Hon. 8th Earl of Grantham (1932-)

**Alexander "Alex" Crawley**, **8th Earl of Grantham** (b. 25 December, 1914) is the current patriarch of the Crawley Family and the co-owner of the Downton Estate (along with his eldest sister). He is the youngest child and only son of Robert and Cora Crawley, and the brother of Lady Mary Crawley, Edith, Marchioness of Hexham, and the late Lady Sybil Branson.

He is a prominent member of the Crawley and Levinson families by birth, and of the Lewis Family by his marriage. He was also the leader of The Fellowship.

## Biography

Alex was born in Downton Abbey in early morning of Christmas 1914. His mother had a long and difficult labor, but all was well and he was given birth without any more complications for both the mother and child. His birth marked a celebration for the family, as Robert finally has an heir he and Cora had long waited for.

He was 23 years younger than his eldest sister Mary, 22 years younger than his elder sister Edith, and 18 years younger than his youngest sister Sybil.

His name Alexander was given by his three sisters, naming him after Alexander the Great. Isidore was given by his father, in honor of the child's maternal grandfather Isidore Levinson. It was also in accordance with the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition of naming a newborn after a deceased loved one.

He was christened in a service at St. Michael and All Angels Church on the 22nd of March, 1914 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. His godparents included: Matthew Crawley, Delilah Mellark, Richard Grey, and Rosamund Painswick.

## Education

Alex was educated by his mother and sisters at Downton during the First World War. Through them, the learned French, music, reading, and writing. After the war, he was educated for a year in Downton School by his mother, much to his father and grandmother's chagrin. He was the first member of the Crawley Family to be educated in the said school.

By age 7, he was transferred to Hampton School, where he met his future best friends: Alfie McGregor, Richie Gifford, and Vince Kingston. Together, they would be the four original members of The Fellowship. At age 13, he and his friends transferred to Harrow School. He was still in mourning when arrived at the school upon his arrival, as his paternal grandmother has just died a week before the opening of classes.

After graduating at Hampton, he studied at the University College, Oxford, breaking the long-time tradition of the previous Earls of Grantham studying in military academies right after their secondary education. He graduated the college with a degree in Art History. Throughout his years in school, he was a player—and eventually the Captain of the school rugby teams, respectively.

It was only after graduating university that he pursued his military career. He enrolled at the Royal Air Force College, being the first Crawley to be a member of the Royal Air Force. He finished his officer training and earned his RAF wings at his graduation. He also received the prestigious Sword of Honour, as he was the most outstanding student officer of that year.

## Appearance and Personality

Alex has dark brown curly hair and bright blue eyes. Growing up, he has always been referred to as his father's carbon copy. But as he had gotten older, he was now referred to as his mother's look-alike.

He is very intelligent, much to his family's surprise. He shows a strong curiosity for the world around him, and a thirst for knowledge. Well-liked by many, he has a profound ability to empathize with others, and cares deeply about his family and friends.

Respectful, well-mannered and gentle, Alex always lends a helping hand. He is passionate, ambitious, and determined to achieve his aspirations. His grandmother Violet once feared that he was being too much of an American like his mother, rather than the usual stoic Englishman.

Although quite playful and teasing throughout his youth, he grows to be more mature and serious after both of his parents' sudden passing, but maintains a characteristic sense of humor.

### Notable Accessories

Unlike his father before him, Alex's sentimental personality extends until to his personal jewelry. He wears a bit more jewelry in his everyday wear than most of the men in his time.

* **Round Eyeglasses** - Having a difficulty on eyesight since he was a young child, Alex was given a pair of round eyeglasses made of stainless steel and has worn it ever since. His round-style glasses remained the same as he got older. He only removes his glasses when going to sleep and playing outdoor games with his family and friends.

* **The Earl of Grantham's Pocket Watch** - a gold pocket watch with a double Albert chain was first owned by Patrick Crawley as a present from his father, the 5th Earl. Patrick then passed it on to his only son Robert as he came of age. Robert then continued on the small tradition, passing it to Alex on the night before the latter's 18th birthday. The only thing that he changed was the chain—from a double Albert to a single Albert. It was worn by the 8th Earl mostly as an accessory (because he already had a wrist watch) to himself as he keeps his father close to him. It featured the Grantham crest on its cover, and at the back of it, was a small series of engravings of the names of the past and present Earls of Grantham.

* **Silver Pendant Necklace** - a silver pendant with a simple and thick black cord was a gift by his maternal aunt Rosamund on his 10th birthday. The silver pendant has been engraved of his monogram: the letters ***AC*** (his first and surname) in a cursive-style lettering, with a coronet of a Viscount atop of the two letters. He never took it off and wore it under his dress shirts. Before they parted ways, he gave Jo the necklace as her reminder of him. They then eventually passed the pendant down to their son Arthur.

* **Black Tahitian Pearl Necklace** *-* the pearl attached around a thick, black cord, is a gift from his mother Cora on his 18th birthday. Like his previous necklace, he never took it off and wore it under his dress shirts. The black Tahitian pearl was often worn by royalty and aristocrats alike—dubbing it the *'Queen of the Pearls'*. It symbolizes various things—from prosperity and protection to being a symbol of hope for the broken-hearted. But to Alex, it was a symbol of his mother's everlasting love and the last gift from her that he can keep close to his chest.

* **Signet Ring** - the simple, silver signet ring was given to him by Jo as a reminder to him of her before they parted ways. He promise to never take it off—which he kept until the end. He wears the signet ring on his little finger, eventually stacking it atop of his wedding ring when he got married.

* **Wedding Ring** - his ring was a simple band of platinum, in stark contrast to his wife's golden band. He wears it on his little finger, alongside the signet ring.

## Story

* The Life of Viscount Downton (Book 1)
* Une Nouvelle Ère (Book 2)
* The Unfortunate King (Book 3)

Alex was 12 years old at the time, as it was set in 1927—the same year of the royal visit at Downton Abbey. He wasn't very keen on participating in the visit at first, but knowing his position as the heir of a now prominent Earldom, it seemed that he had now other choice but to do such—even if it meant for him to wear morning dress clothes and pomade for the rest of the visit.

He did help in surveying the land and setting up the dias for the parade the day before. He was, however, mad at his eldest sister Mary at one point during the preparations due to reinstating the family's old—and recently retired butler, Charles Carson, instead of giving their current butler, Thomas Barrow, a chance to lead the staff in such a big event in the House.

Alex was then recognized by King George V during luncheon, saying that the former was quite well-known at Hampton for his intelligence and active participation in both academic and extra-curricular activities.

He was then with this family, Queen Mary of Teck, and Mary, Princess Royal and then Viscountess Lascelles for the royal parade in Downton. It was led by his father, Robert.

After the parade, he then went out for fresh air and took a walk around the estate, when he saw Josephine Lewis sitting atop of the Temple of Diana. She was startled at the sight of the Viscount, making her stand up from her seat and bow at him. The two then exchanged bits of information about their respective lives (along with their shared love of reading), making them instant friends. He then invited her to join him in the Royal Ball, to which she excitingly agreed to.

Hours before the Royal Dinner, he was caught in the ongoing feud of his grandmother and their relative, Maud, Baroness Bagshaw. As Violet and Alex then visits Maud in her room, with her maid, Lucy Smith, present. When she enters, Maud and Lucy are chatting happily—indicating their relationship is closer than that of a servant and employer. Violet inquires if Maud is comfortable, and inquires about having a chat later. Maud promises Violet to "have it out once and for all" before leaving to attend to the queen. Alex then apologizes to Lucy, whom he also told that if Lady Bagshaw really wanted to give her Brampton, he wouldn't object it—as he can't already track much of estate and their properties already.

At the Royal Dinner, Alex overheard Tom and Edith's conversation about the former's interest in Lucy, to which the Marchioness approved by. But as Violet caught both of them, Edith lied—telling that Tom was simply "praising Lady Bagshaw's maid". When the Dowager inquired Tom if the maid contrived to make his acquaintance, the latter simply smiled and replied that they "only met by chance". When she also saw her grandson, who also pleased at himself as he listened, Violet also asked if he also met someone by chance, to which the Viscount agreed to with a huge smile on his face.
A few months after the prestigious Royal Visit, The Fellowship were about Hampton for their February break—when to their surprise, The Earl of Grantham arrived to pick up Alex from school—with a brand new shiny car. Alex was visibly surprised, not only because his father can drive, but of the brand new car as well. He then learned that it was a late Christmas present from his Grandmama Martha.

## Name Etymology

* **Alexander** is a male name of Greek origin meaning *"defending men"*.

* **Isidore** is a male name of Greek origin, meaning *"gift of Isis"*.
	+ He was named after his maternal grandfather, Isidore Levinson.