Edward Cromwell Disbrowe

Who was Edward Cromwell Disbrowe?

Sir Edward Cromwell Disbrowe, Member of Parliament for Windsor, later served in the British diplomatic corps in positions in Switzerland, Russia, Sweden and other postings. He was named British Ambassador to the Netherlands, where he died at the Hague, and his body was returned to England on the ship HMS Lightning. He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Derbyshire.

Sir Edward Disbrowe was born at Walton Hall, Walton-on-Trent, South Derbyshire, the son of Colonel Edward Disbrowe, and his wife Lady Charlotte Hobart, fourth daughter of George Hobart, 3rd Earl of Buckinghamshire. Disbrowe was the lineal descendant of John Desborough, a senior commander in the Parliamentary Army who was brother-in-law to Oliver Cromwell. Col. Edward Disbrowe, father of Sir Edward, was Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. His son, Sir Edward Cromwell Disbrowe, MP, was married to Anne Kennedy, daughter of the Hon. Robert Kennedy, son of Archibald Kennedy, 11th Earl of Cassilis.

Disbrowe's eldest daughter Charlotte, who lived at the family home in Derbyshire, became a writer of note, publishing two volumes recounting her father's diplomatic service, with particular attention to his time in Russia. Disbrowe's younger daughter Jane Harriet married Henry Christopher Wise of Woodcote House, Leek Wootton, Warwickshire, member of Parliament. Wise was the great-great-grandson of Henry Wise, gardener to Queen Anne, who laid out Kensington Gardens.