Isobel Grey

## The HonourableThe Baroness Merton

 Lady Merton
Isobel Grey
Isobel Merton
Milady
My lady
Your Ladyship
Her Ladyship
Ma'am (formerly)
Madam (formerly)
Mrs. Crawley (formerly)
Mrs. Reginald Crawley (formerly)
Cousin Crawley (formerly)
Miss Isobel Turnbull (before her first marriage)
Mother (by Matthew)
Grandmama (by George and Caroline)
Aunt Isobel (by Alex)
My dear (by Violet Crawley)

 Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham † (third cousin-in-law by first marriage)
 Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham † (marital third cousin-in-law by first marriage)
Patrick Crawley, 6th Earl of Grantham † (second cousin twice removed by first marriage)
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham † (second cousin-in-law twice removed by first marriage)
 Lady Rosamund Painswick (third cousin-in-law by first marriage)
 Mr. Marmaduke Painswick † (marital third cousin-in-law by first marriage)
Miss Delilah Mellark (marital third cousin-in-law by first marriage)
 Lady Mary Crawley (third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage/daughter-in-law)
 Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham (third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)
 Lady Sybil Branson † (third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)
 Alexander Crawley, 8th Earl of Grantham (third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)
Mr. Tom Branson (marital third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)
Mr. Henry Talbot (former marital third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)
 Herbert Pelham, Marquess of Hexham (marital third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)
Josephine Crawley, Countess of Grantham (marital third cousin-in-law once removed by first marriage)

## Affiliations

### Occupation

Nurse
 Chairwoman of the Downton Hospital
Almoner of the Downton Hospital

### Loyalty

Crawley Family
Matthew Crawley
Richard Grey
George Crawley
Violet Crawley
Tom Branson
Mary Crawley

## Fan Cast

### Portrayed By

Penelope Wilton

**Isobel Grey, Baroness Merton** (née **Turnbull**, previously **Crawley**; b. 3 June, 1859), known mostly as just **Isobel** or **Mrs. Crawley**, is a doctor's daughter and a member by marriage of the Crawley and Grey families—the former through her late husband, **Dr. Reginald Crawley** and her late son, Matthew Crawley's, marriage to the aristocratic Lady Mary Crawley, and through her grandson, George Crawley. She is a member of the Turnbull Family by birth, and of the Crawley and Grey families by her two marriages.

## Biography

Isobel Crawley was well-educated for someone of her social standing, and trained as a nurse. She comes from a upper-middle-class background and values family, charity, and education.

She was a daughter, sister, and wife of doctors—as her father, **Sir John Turnbull**, her brother, **Dr. Edward Turnbull**, and her late husband **Dr. Reginald Crawley** all practiced medicine.

At some point before 1885, Isobel, "sick with love", married Reginald and in 1885 gave birth to the couple's only son and child, Matthew.

Further contributing to her medical knowledge, she herself studied to be a nurse during the Boer War. Isobel and her only son Matthew both lived in a house in Manchester, England, where Matthew worked as a solicitor. In 1912, both of them moved to Downton to start their new lives, where they lived in Crawley House with their new butler/valet Joseph Molesley, their cook May Bird and their housemaid who moved from Manchester with them.

Isobel then used her nursing skills when she took an interest in the Downton Hospital. She found a local farmer, John Drake, who was dying of dropsy. She was more familiar with the new technique to cure it and persuaded Dr Clarkson to try it, saving the man's life. Isobel was later appointed Chairman at the Downton Hospital, which she co-chaired with Violet Crawley.

## Appearance and Personality

Isobel had grey hair and brown eyes.

She is a strong-willed individual with a set of values that often clash with the aristocratic views of the other Crawleys, causing tension at times. She is not afraid to speak her own mind, and sticks to her principles no matter what. Isobel believes that the world needs to adapt and change with the times.

She also takes up causes to help the disadvantaged and strives to make the world a better place. Isobel has a strong *"need to be needed"* and states herself that she cannot work in a place where her assistance is not required, causing her to chase work in the places that need assistance most crucially.

Isobel is a *"hands-on"* person, good at completing tasks and getting things done, with advanced medical training which comes in handy on several occasions. She is a strong and helpful person. And most importantly, she deeply loves and cares for her only son Matthew and is devastated by his death.

She is also fulfilling the promise she made to her son shortly before his untimely demise—to not only take care of his wife Mary and any of their future children, but also to take care of his cousin Alexander, which Matthew had considered to be closest that he had to a brother.

## Name Etymology

* **Isobel** is a female name of Scottish origin, meaning *"pledged to God"*.