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Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth

(1750-1828), Dramatist; author; traveller

Sitter in 5 portraits
After the birth of her six child, Elizabeth Craven separated from her husband and set out on a long journey across Europe in 1783. She went on to publish her diary of this trip as A journey through the Crimea to Constantinople (1789). When she reached Ansbach she began an affair with Christian Frederick Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth. On the death of Elizabeth's first husband, in 1791, the Margrave sold his Prussian estates and they returned to London to live in Hammersmith at Brandenburg House, where she continued to write. The Margrave died in 1806 and Elizabeth travelled again, buying a villa in Naples in 1817, where she died.

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Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth, by Ozias Humphry - NPG L223

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth

by Ozias Humphry
oil on canvas, circa 1780-1783
On display in Room 17 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L223

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth, by William Ridley, published by  Vernor & Hood, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D987

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth

by William Ridley, published by Vernor & Hood, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 31 March 1801 (circa 1774-1775)
NPG D987

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth, by William Ridley, published by  Vernor & Hood, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D14347

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth

by William Ridley, published by Vernor & Hood, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 31 March 1801 (circa 1774-1775)
NPG D14347

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth, by William Ridley, published by  Vernor & Hood, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D16173

Elizabeth Craven (née Berkeley), Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth

by William Ridley, published by Vernor & Hood, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 31 March 1801 (circa 1774-1775)
NPG D16173

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Julia Gasper

13 May 2019, 11:28

Elizabeth's Craven's first husband was Baron Craven, so she was a Baroness, not a Countess. (Her son was made an Earl which creates some confusion). She had seven children before separating from by Lord Craven.
The Margrave's domains in Prussia were not really estates, they were sovereign principalities, and he made them over to the next heir, the King of Prussia, rather than selling them.

Julia Gasper

09 May 2017, 22:47

I don't think "socialite" is a fair description of Elizabeth Craven. You will have to read my book when it comes out, but for now :
"Beyreuth". I think the correct spelling is "Bayreuth"
"On Craven's death in 1791, she married the Margrave and they continued to live in Anspach," No they left Germany.
"where she translated plays and wrote her own, for which her husband composed the music." She did write plays but as far as I am aware, her husband never wrote music either for her plays or for any other occasion.