Mr. Patrick Crawley (d. 15 April 1912^[1]) was the only son of James Crawley. His father was the first cousin of Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham and heir to Earldom and the family fortune. Patrick worked for the Foreign Office. He often visited his family at Downton Abbey and was well regarded by his family and the servants.

There was an understanding that Patrick would wed Lady Mary Crawley. Lady Mary was indifferent to the idea of marrying Patrick, despite the family pressure. She remarks that she had been keeping him in check, in case a bigger fish came along. It is not certain if Patrick ever knew that Mary's sister, Edith, was in love with him. Patrick and his father perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic, at the very beginning of the series. Their bodies were never recovered, or if they were recovered, had remained unidentifed. A memorial was held for them in both London and then Downton, where many of the villagers come to show their respects. Edith is quite sad after the memorial, but Mary tells Sybil that her greatest sadness comes from realizing that she does not feel as sad as someone ought to at such a time. Mary wants to keep secret that she and Patrick had an unofficial engagement since she would have to stay in mourning dress longer then she would if she is only mourning a cousin.

The Duke of Crowborough arrives at Downton Abbey, ostensibly to present his condolences, actually to court Mary. He tells Robert that he did not really know Patrick except "to see Patrick at the odd thing."

In 1918, Major "Patrick Gordon", a member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, made a request to stay at the convalescent home at the Downton Abbey because he claims to be related to the Crawley family. Major Gordon then claims to be Patrick Crawley. He claims that he survived the Titanic sinking, but developed amnesia and was send to Canada since he mistaken for a Canadian and taking his new surname from a bottle of gin. It is impossible to recognize Major Gordon or compare a handwriting sample as his face was severely burned and his hand was amputated during the Battle of Passchendaele. Gordon does convince Lady Edith by both relating vague experiences in Downton and telling her that Patrick loved her the whole time, but decides to leave, rather than commit to his (almost certainly false) claim. It is suggested by the Earl's solicitor, George Murray, that a Peter Gordon might have worked with the real Patrick Crawley at the Foreign Office, which would explain how he knew some of the private details of the Earl's family.

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Despite Patrick Gordon saying he is Patrick Crawley, he is actually not him; Patrick Crawley died on the Titanic, or in the water of the ocean, on 15th April 1912.