Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe facts for kids

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Robert Offley Ashburton Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe
Secretary of State for War
In office 25 August 1931 – 5 November 1931
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	Ramsay MacDonald
Preceded by	Thomas Shaw
Succeeded by	The Viscount Hailsham
His Majesty's Ambassador to France
In office 1922–1928
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	Bonar Law Stanley Baldwin
Preceded by	The Lord Hardinge of Penshurst
Succeeded by	Sir William Tyrrell
Leader of the House of Lords
In office 14 April 1908 – 10 December 1916
Monarch	Edward VII George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Marquess of Ripon
Succeeded by	The Earl Curzon of Kedleston
Lord President of the Council
In office 25 May 1915 – 10 December 1916
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Earl Beauchamp
Succeeded by	The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
In office 10 December 1905 – 12 April 1908
Monarch	Edward VII
Prime Minister	Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Preceded by	The Marquess of Londonderry
Succeeded by	The Lord Tweedmouth
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
In office 13 February 1912 – 25 May 1915
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Earl Carrington
Succeeded by	The Earl Curzon of Kedleston
In office 9 October 1908 – 23 October 1911
Monarch	Edward VII George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Marquess of Ripon
Succeeded by	The Earl Carington
President of the Board of Education
In office 18 August 1916 – 10 December 1916
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	Arthur Henderson
Succeeded by	Herbert Fisher
Secretary of State for India
In office 25 May 1911 – 25 May 1915
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Viscount Morley of Blackburn
Succeeded by	Austen Chamberlain
In office 3 November 1910 – 7 March 1911
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Viscount Morley of Blackburn
Succeeded by	The Viscount Morley of Blackburn
Secretary of State for the Colonies
In office 12 April 1908 – 3 November 1910
Monarch	Edward VII George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Earl of Elgin
Succeeded by	Lewis Harcourt
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
In office 18 August 1892 – 29 June 1895
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Prime Minister	William Ewart Gladstone The Earl of Rosebery
Preceded by	The Earl of Zetland
Succeeded by	The Earl Cadogan
Lord-in-Waiting Government Whip
In office 16 February 1886 – 20 July 1886
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Prime Minister	William Ewart Gladstone
Preceded by	The Lord Elphinstone
Succeeded by	The Lord Elphinstone
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 12 August 1885 – 20 June 1945 Hereditary peerage
Preceded by	The Lord Houghton
Succeeded by	Peerage extinct
Personal details
Born	Robert Offley Ashburton Milnes (1858-01-12)12 January 1858
Died	20 June 1945(1945-06-20) (aged 87)
Nationality	British
Political party	Liberal
Spouses	(1) Sibyl Graham (d. 1887) (2) Lady Margaret Primrose
Children	6, including Cynthia and Mary
Parent	Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton (father)
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge

Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe (born January 12, 1858 – died June 20, 1945) was an important British politician and writer. He was a member of the Liberal Party and held many high-ranking jobs in the government. Over his life, he was known by different titles, including The Lord Houghton and The Earl of Crewe, before becoming The Marquess of Crewe.

Early Life and Education

Robert Offley Ashburton Milnes was born in London. He was the only son of Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton. Robert went to Harrow, a famous school, and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge University. He finished his studies there in 1880.

Starting a Political Career

Robert Milnes joined the Liberal Party. In 1883, he became an assistant to Lord Granville, who was in charge of foreign affairs. He became a Lord-in-waiting to Queen Victoria in 1886. This meant he helped the Queen with various duties.

Personal Challenges and Return to Politics

In 1887, Robert faced a sad time when his first wife, Sibyl Marcia, passed away suddenly. He tried to study agriculture but became ill. He then traveled to Egypt. More sadness came when his eight-year-old son, Richard, died in 1890.

After these difficult years, he returned to politics in 1892. He became the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Liberal government. This was a key role in governing Ireland at the time.

New Titles and Marriage

In 1894, Robert inherited large estates from his uncle. He also added "Crewe" to his last name. The next year, in 1895, he was given the title Earl of Crewe.

In 1899, he married Lady Margaret Etrenne Hannah Primrose. She was the daughter of Lord Rosebery, who had been a Prime Minister.

Key Government Roles

Robert Crewe became a very important figure in the Liberal government. He was known for being a good organizer and administrator.

Leading the House of Lords

From 1905 to 1908, he was the Lord President of the Council. He also became the Leader of the House of Lords in 1908. This meant he was in charge of guiding government plans through the House of Lords. The House of Lords often disagreed with the government's plans. Crewe worked to find ways for both sides to agree.

He played a big part in the Parliament Act 1911. This law changed the power of the House of Lords. It meant the elected House of Commons had more power than the Lords.

Secretary of State for India

From 1910 to 1915, Crewe served as Secretary of State for India. This was a very important job. He was responsible for moving the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi. He also helped plan the design of New Delhi. For his work, he was given even higher titles in 1911: Earl of Madeley and Marquess of Crewe.

Robert Offley Ashburton Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe, by William Strang, 1907

Later Roles and World War I

During World War I, Crewe continued to serve in government. He was Lord President of the Council again from 1915. His home, Crewe House, became a center for war propaganda.

He briefly served as President of the Board of Education in 1916. After the war, he continued to be involved in education. He was Chairman of Imperial College London and Chancellor of Sheffield University.

Ambassador to France

From 1922 to 1928, he was the British Ambassador to France. He helped create a British Institute in Paris, which is now part of the University of London Institute in Paris.

He had a very short time as Secretary for War in 1931. During World War II, he led the Independent Liberals in the House of Lords.

Literary Work

Crewe also enjoyed writing, like his father. He published a book of poems called Stray Verses in 1890. He also wrote other works, including translations. One of his poems, "A Harrow Grave in Flanders," was about World War I.

After his father-in-law, Lord Rosebery, died, Crewe wrote his biography. The book, called Lord Rosebery, was published in 1931.

Family and Legacy

Margaret (Peggy) Crewe-Milnes, Marchioness of Crewe (Glyn Philpot, 1917)

Crewe was married twice. His first wife was Sibyl Marcia Graham. They had three daughters and one son, who sadly died young.

• Lady Annabel Crewe-Milnes (1881–1948)
• Hon. Richard Charles Rodes Milnes (1882–1890), died as a child.
• Lady Celia Hermione Crewe-Milnes (1884–1985)
• Lady Helen Cynthia Crewe-Milnes (1884–1968)

His second wife was Lady Margaret Etrenne Hannah Primrose. They had two children, a son and a daughter. Their son also died in childhood.

• Richard George Archibald John Lucian Hungerford Crewe-Milnes (1911–1922), died as a child.
• Lady Mary Evelyn Hungerford Crewe-Milnes (1915–2014)

Robert Crewe died on June 20, 1945, at 87 years old. Because both of his sons had died before him, his titles ended when he passed away. He was buried in Saint Bertoline's Church in Cheshire.