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{{Infobox character
 
{{Infobox character
 
|name=Richard "Dickie" Grey
 
|name=Richard "Dickie" Grey
|title= Lord Merton
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|title= Baron Merton
 
|image=[[File:308043-downton-abbey-douglas-reith-as-lord-merton.jpg|250px]]
 
|image=[[File:308043-downton-abbey-douglas-reith-as-lord-merton.jpg|250px]]
 
|hideb=
 
|hideb=
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|marital= Widower
 
|marital= Widower
 
|address=
 
|address=
|titles=Lord (Viscount)<ref>Neither of Merton's children have "Lord" as their title. The only titles that do not allow "Lord" as a courtesy title are, according to Debretts, a Baron, Knight or Viscount. Merton cannot be a knight, as they are "Sir" not Lord. He also cannot be a Baron - like Anthony Strallan - because Barons are referred to, in formal conversation, as "Sir [first name] [last name]" which Merton is not. This means that the only title left that he can be is a Viscount. As Merton is referred to exclusively as "Lord" he cannot be an Earl, Marquess or Duke.</ref>
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|titles=Lord (Baron)<ref>Episode 5 of Series 5 reveals that Richard Grey must be a Baron. When Carson is announcing the guests for the cocktail party at the end of the episode, he announces Grey as "the Lord Merton", which is how a Baron is verbally addressed. An Earl would be announced as "the Earl of [insert title]" (Carson announces an Earl in this manner a few seconds later), and a Viscount would be announced as "The Viscount [insert title]". We know he's not a Duke, so he must be a Baron.</ref>
 
|military=
 
|military=
 
|hidep=
 
|hidep=
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|loyalty=|showbts = 1
 
|loyalty=|showbts = 1
 
|portrayedby = [[Douglas Reith]]}}
 
|portrayedby = [[Douglas Reith]]}}
'''Richard "Dickie" Grey'''<ref>Mary refers to Lord Merton's family as "The Greys" in Series 3 Episode 1. In Series 5 Episode 1, Robert refers to Lord Merton as "Dicky Merton"; Dicky - and Dickon - is normally a nickname for Richard, implying his name is Richard.</ref>, '''Lord Merton''' is the father of [[Timothy Grey|Tim]] and [[Larry Grey]] and a family friend of the Crawleys. In 1891, when [[Lady Mary Crawley|Lady Mary]] was born, he stood as her godfather.
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'''Richard "Dickie" Grey'''<ref>Mary refers to Lord Merton's family as "The Greys" in Series 3 Episode 1. In Series 5 Episode 1, Robert refers to Lord Merton as "Dicky Merton"; Dicky - and Dickon - is normally a nickname for Richard, implying his name is Richard.</ref>, '''the Baron Merton''' is the father of [[Timothy Grey|Tim]] and [[Larry Grey]] and a family friend of the Crawleys. In 1891, when [[Lady Mary Crawley|Lady Mary]] was born, he stood as her godfather.
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
 
Little is known of his background, but he mentions not being happily married to his wife. He clearly is known and trusted by the [[Crawley family]] to have been named Mary's godfather. He also once wished to have studied medicine, but his father did not think it suitable for someone of his stature.
 
Little is known of his background, but he mentions not being happily married to his wife. He clearly is known and trusted by the [[Crawley family]] to have been named Mary's godfather. He also once wished to have studied medicine, but his father did not think it suitable for someone of his stature.
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=== References ===
 
=== References ===
  +
Episode 5 of Series 5 reveals that Richard Grey '''must''' be a Baron. When Carson is announcing the guests for the cocktail party at the end of the episode, he announces Grey as "the Lord Merton", which is how a Baron is verbally addressed. An Earl would be announced as "the Earl of [insert title]" (Carson announces an Earl in this manner a few seconds later), and a Viscount would be announced as "The Viscount [insert title]". We know he's not a Duke, so he must be a Baron.
  +
 
The below post is incorrect.
 
The below post is incorrect.
   

Revision as of 14:38, 21 October 2014

Richard "Dickie" Grey[2], the Baron Merton is the father of Tim and Larry Grey and a family friend of the Crawleys. In 1891, when Lady Mary was born, he stood as her godfather.

Background

Little is known of his background, but he mentions not being happily married to his wife. He clearly is known and trusted by the Crawley family to have been named Mary's godfather. He also once wished to have studied medicine, but his father did not think it suitable for someone of his stature.

He has at least two children: Larry, who works in banking, and Tim, who is a diplomat.

Biography

1920

He was invited to Downton Abbey with his son Larry in 1920 for Mary's wedding. After Larry is revealed to have drugged Tom Branson to make him appear rude and drunk, Lord Merton gives his son one last chance to deny it, asking him if it was true. When Larry unremorsefully insults Tom, Lord Merton stands angrily along with Robert and Matthew, furiously saying to Larry, "Be silent this instant sir!". He apologizes directly to Tom for what his son did, and expresses hope that he will recover in time for the wedding.

1922-23

Isobel-and-mr-merton-1-

Lord Merton and Isobel

He later attends lunch at Violet's house where he grows closer to Isobel Crawley, taking a walk with her.

He later sends her flowers, hoping to apologize for his behavior which he felt was rude (they were discussing their children and their occupations, and when he brought up Matthew, Isobel revealed her son had died; he had momentarily forgotten who she was). Isobel told Violet that he had not been rude at all.

He reappears in 1923, and is admiring Isobel even more. When he turns up at Grantham House for a ball, she is very anxious about his presence, especially when he asks her to dance. Violet notes Merton's keen interest.

1924

Lord Merton is still in pursuit of Isobel and invites Violet and Isobel to his estate and tries to discuss the science of quarantine in a book he has read to Isobel. He reveals his wife has died and that he would need a new lady in the house.

Appearances

Appearances and Mentions
   
Series 3 Episode 1
Appears
Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Christmas Special
   
Series 4 Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8
Appears
Christmas Special
Appears
   
Series 5 Episode 1
Appears
Episode 2
Appears
Episode 3
Mentioned
Episode 4
Appears
Episode 5
Appears
Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Christmas Special
   
Series 6 Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Christmas Special

External Links

  1. Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 8 at Downton Abbey Online

References

Episode 5 of Series 5 reveals that Richard Grey must be a Baron. When Carson is announcing the guests for the cocktail party at the end of the episode, he announces Grey as "the Lord Merton", which is how a Baron is verbally addressed. An Earl would be announced as "the Earl of [insert title]" (Carson announces an Earl in this manner a few seconds later), and a Viscount would be announced as "The Viscount [insert title]". We know he's not a Duke, so he must be a Baron.

The below post is incorrect.

Sir Anthony Strallan is a baronet NOT a baron. A baron is always styled Lord. For example Lord Aysgarth was a baron in the 2013 Christmas Special.

In addition, Marquesses, Earls and Viscounts are always addressed as Lord. For example Robert Crawley is the Earl of Grantham and styled Lord Grantham. Anthony Foyle is Viscount Gillingham and styled Lord Gillingham. Hugh MacLare is Marquess of Flintshire and styled Lord Flintshire.

Therefore Lord Merton could be a Marquess, Earl, Viscount or Baron. He cannot be a Duke as you never address the Duke of Merton as Lord Merton. Instead you would address him as Your Grace or socially as Duke, like the Duke of Crowborough in Season 1. He also cannot be a baronet as he would not carry the style Lord, instead he would be Sir Richard, like Sir Anthony Strallan or Sir Richard Carlisle.

  1. Episode 5 of Series 5 reveals that Richard Grey must be a Baron. When Carson is announcing the guests for the cocktail party at the end of the episode, he announces Grey as "the Lord Merton", which is how a Baron is verbally addressed. An Earl would be announced as "the Earl of [insert title]" (Carson announces an Earl in this manner a few seconds later), and a Viscount would be announced as "The Viscount [insert title]". We know he's not a Duke, so he must be a Baron.
  2. Mary refers to Lord Merton's family as "The Greys" in Series 3 Episode 1. In Series 5 Episode 1, Robert refers to Lord Merton as "Dicky Merton"; Dicky - and Dickon - is normally a nickname for Richard, implying his name is Richard.