John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden

Field Marshal John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, 1st Baron Braybrooke (formerly Whitwell), KB (13 March 1719 – 25 May 1797) was a British nobleman and soldier.

Military career
Born at Oundle in Northamptonshire and educated at Winchester College, Whitwell was commissioned as an ensign in the 3rd regiment of Foot Guards in 1739.

He served in the Netherlands and Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession from 1740 to 1748.

He became Member of Parliament for Andover in 1749. His aunt Elizabeth, Countess of Portsmouth agreed to leave him her interest in Audley End if he changed his surname to Griffin: he did so in 1749, by Act of Parliament, becoming John Griffin Griffin.

He also served in the Seven Years' War from 1756. He was briefly Colonel of the 50th Regiment of Foot in 1759 and was promoted to Major-General that same year.

He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 33rd Regiment of Foot in 1760 and promoted to lieutenant-general in 1761. He was also appointed KB in 1761 and promoted to full general in 1778.

He was Colonel of the 1st Troop, Horse Grenadier Guards from 1766 and of the 4th Dragoons from 1788.

The Barony of Howard de Walden was called out of abeyance in his favour on 3 August 1784. He was additionally created 1st Baron Braybrooke in 1788. He was made a field marshal on 30 July 1796. He died at Audley End in 1797.

Family
In 1749 he married Anna Maria Schutz and in 1765 he married Catherine Clayton.