MARTYN DOWNER

The Queen's Knight

Howard ElphinstoneHoward Elphinstone was born in 1829 on the estate in Livonia (now Latvia) gifted to his grandfather in the eighteenth century by Catherine the Great of Russia for his service in her navy. After graduating as a Royal Engineer from the Military Academy at Woolwich, Elphinstone saw action in the Crimean War where he won a Victoria Cross for his outstanding bravery. In 1858, he was recruited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to be the governor to their third, and favourite, son Prince Arthur. Elphinstone remained in Court for the next thirty years, forging a very close friendship with the Queen and her children. A highly accomplished artist and musician, he was knighted in 1871. In 1890, Elphinstone was tragically killed leaving a widow and four young daughters. Martyn's wife Sam is Elphinstone's great great grandaughter.