Clayton Cracherode

The Reverend Clayton Mordaunt Cracherode F.R.S, F.S.A., bibliophile, is buried in the east cloister of Westminster Abbey not far from the Library entrance. The inscription has been re-cut and reads:

Rev. C.M. Cracherode M.A. Born June 23 1730. Died April 5 1799

He was a great collector of books and a benefactor to Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford where he was educated, and to the British Museum, where he was a trustee. He was born at Taplow in Buckinghamshire, son of Colonel Mordaunt Cracherode (who had sailed around the world with George Anson and was governor of Minorca) and his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Morice, paymaster of the British forces in Portugal and sister of William Morice, High Bailiff of Westminster. Although ordained and briefly a curate he did not pursue that career. He died at Queen Square and was buried near his mother (who died 3rd January 1785 aged 89). His sister Anne was also buried near him in July 1802, unmarried.