Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot

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Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot (born 'Edward Eliot' London on July 8, 1727 – February 17, 1804 Port Eliot, Cornwall) was born to Richard Eliot (c.1694 – November 19, 1748) and Harriot Craggs (c.1704 – January 1769), the illegitimate daughter of the Privy Counsellor and Secretary of State, James Craggs (April 9, 1686 – March 2, 1721) and Hester Santlow, the noted actress.

In 1742, he matriculated at St Mary Hall, Oxford but did not graduate. During 1747–1748, he travelled in Continental Europe, principally Holland, Germany and Switzerland. On November 19, 1748 he succeeded his father. From 1748–1768 he was Member of Parliament for St Germans, Cornwall, the place of his family estate Port Eliot. In succession, he became Member of Parliament (MP) for Liskeard (1768–1774), for St Germans (1774–1775), and for Cornwall (1775–1784).

In 1751, Edward was appointed Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall. From 1760 until 1776, Edward was one of the eight Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, and in 1775 he again became Receiver General of the Duchy. However, in 1776 he notably voted against the employment of Hessian Troops, and resigned from the Board of Trade and Plantations, and from the government.

On January 13, 1784 he was formally created 1st Baron Eliot of St Germans, and he took his seat in the House of Lords on February 2, 1784. In 1789 he changed his surname from Eliot to Craggs-Eliot, presumably to prevent the extinction of the Craggs surname. However, his children generally used the surname Eliot.

Edward was an acquaintance of Dr Samuel Johnson and a patron of Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Edward married on September 25, 1756 to Catherine Elliston (September 1735 – February 23, 1804), daughter of Captain Edward Elliston and Catherine Gibbon, the aunt of Edward Gibbon. Edward and Catherine had four children:

• Edward James Eliot (August 9, 1757 – September 1757)
• Edward James Eliot (August 24, 1758 – September 20, 1797)
• John Eliot, 1st Earl of St Germans (September 30, 1761 – November 17, 1823)
• William Eliot, 2nd Earl of St Germans (April 1, 1767 – January 19, 1845)

Edward died at his Port Eliot estate on February 17, 1804, and was buried at St Germans, Cornwall

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Richard Eliot Thomas Potter	Member for St Germans with Thomas Potter 1748–1754, Anthony Champion 1754–1761, Philip Stanhope 1761–1765, William Hussey 1765–1768, Samuel Salt 1768 1748–1768	Succeeded by George Jennings Benjamin Langlois
Preceded by Philip Stephens Anthony Champion	Member for Liskeard with Samuel Salt 1768–1774	Succeeded by Samuel Salt Edward Gibbon
Preceded by George Jennings Benjamin Langlois	Member for St Germans with Benjamin Langlois 1774–1775	Succeeded by Benjamin Langlois John Pownall
Preceded by Sir John Molesworth, Bt Sir William Lemon, Bt	Member for Cornwall with Sir William Lemon, Bt 1775–1784	Succeeded by Sir William Lemon, Bt Sir William Molesworth, Bt
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by New Creation	Baron Eliot 1784–1804	Succeeded by John Eliot