Richard Grey

## The HonourableThe Baron Merton

 Lord Merton
Milord
My lord
His Lordship
Your Lordship
Dickie (by his wife)
Dickie Merton (by Robert and Violet)
Uncle Dickie (by Mary, Edith, and Alex)

 Amelia Grey (daughter-in-law)
 Lady Mary Crawley (goddaughter/stepdaughter-in-law by his second marriage and her first)

## Affiliations

### Loyalty

Crawley Family
Isobel Grey
The Fellowship

## Fan Cast

### Portrayed By

Douglas Reith

**Richard Grey**, **Baron** **Merton** (b. 16 October 1863), colloquially known as **Dickie Merton**, is the husband of Isobel, Lady Merton, and the father of Larry and Timothy Grey. He is a family friend and honorary member of the Crawley Family.

## Biography

Dickie was born on the 16 October, 1863 to the late Lord and Lady Merton. He was a close friend of Robert Crawley since their days at Eton College.

He clearly is known and trusted by the Crawley Family, as he was named both Mary's and Alex's godfather. He also once wished to have studied medicine, but his father did not think it suitable for someone of his stature.

Sometime in the 1880s, he firstly married the late **Ada Grey, Baroness Merton**. Through their marriage, they had two sons: the Hon. Lawrence "Larry" Grey and the Hon. Timothy "Tim" Grey. His elder son and heir, Larry, works in banking. His younger son, Tim, is a diplomat. Merton mentions that he and Ada it was not a happy marriage as they were not well suited. He also explains that both his sons—Larry and Tim, *"take after their mother, in every possible way"*.

Dickie attends luncheon with Violet, Isobel, and Edith at the Dower House where he is attracted to Isobel and afterwards offers to take her home. He later sends her flowers, hoping to apologize for his behavior, which he felt was rude (they were discussing their children and their occupations, and when he brought up Matthew, Isobel revealed her son had died; he had forgotten who she was).

In 1924, Dickie is still in pursuit of Isobel and invites Violet and Isobel to his estate and tries to discuss with Isobel the science of quarantine, which he has read about in a book. He more or less mention that he would like a new lady in the house. He later proposes to Isobel, telling her it is not by practical reasons but because he has fallen in love with her. She is very surprised, not by his proposal but of his "talk of love" and tells him she would need to think about it. Eventually, she accepts his proposal, saying of Dickie, "He wooed me into it. And I'm very pleased he did."

Later, a dinner party is planned for Isobel to meet Dickie's sons. Unfortunately the dinner does not go according to plan. Both of them, in particular Larry, treat her with disrespect. Dickie asks him to leave, which does not sway his behavior. Dickie begs Isobel not to change her mind, but she has become disheartened by his sons' treatment.

Isobel eventually chooses to call off the engagement, telling Dickie that she does not wish to alienate him from his sons. When she assures him she would marry him if his sons accepted her, he does try, but Larry (and Tim presumably, too) does not change his mind. Dickie is upset when he finds Larry wrote Isobel a letter telling her so, that she did not show him for a while, and further angered by Larry's treatment of her. He professes his love for her again, but she remains steadfast and does not desire to go through with the marriage failing herself to return his professed love.

In 1925, when Dickie is found to have fatal anemia, Isobel finally realizes that she is deeply in love with him. Although being thwarted by Larry and his new wife Amelia, she decides to marry him so they can spend the time he's got left together. After a few months Dickie is feeling better and asks Dr Clarkson to run some new tests. Just before Lady Edith's wedding at 31 December, 1928, Dr. Clarkson tells Dickie and Isobel that the anemia is re-diagnosed to non-pernicious.

## Appearance and Personality

Dickie had grey hair and blue eyes.

He is very loyal to his wife Isobel, and to the Crawleys—most especially to his godchildren Mary and Alex. He also considered Isobel's grandson George, and his sister Caroline, as his own grandchildren. He is also very much close to the other Crawley grandchildren.

Dickie also stood in as the father figure to the three Crawley children after the death of their parents in Christmas of 1932. He was also a close confidant of The Fellowship.

## Name Etymology

* **Richard** is a male name of German origin, meaning *"dominant ruler"*.

* **Douglas** is a unisex name of Scottish origin, meaning *"black water"*.