John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden

The Lord Howard de Walden
John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden
Born	13 March 1719 Oundle, Northamptonshire
Died	25 May 1797 (aged 78) Audley End House, Essex
Place of burial	St Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Saffron Walden
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1739–1797
Rank	Field Marshal
Battles/wars	War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War
Awards	Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath

Field Marshal John Griffin Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, 1st Baron Braybrooke (formerly Whitwell), KB (13 March 1719 – 25 May 1797) was a British nobleman and soldier. Born John Whitwell, he served as a junior officer with the Pragmatic Army in the Netherlands and Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession. After changing his surname to Griffin in 1749, he commanded a brigade of at least four battalions at the Battle of Corbach in July 1760 during the Seven Years' War. He also commanded a brigade at the Battle of Warburg and was wounded at the Battle of Kloster Kampen.

Born the son of William Whitwell and Anne Whitwell (née Griffin, sister and sole heir of Edward Griffin, 3rd Baron Griffin of Braybrooke and granddaughter of James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk and Baron Howard de Walden), Whitwell was educated at Winchester College and commissioned as an ensign in the 3rd regiment of Foot Guards and lieutenant in the Army in 1739. He served with the Pragmatic Army in the Netherlands and Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession and was promoted to captain in his regiment and lieutenant colonel in the Army in March 1744.