Field Marshal John Griffin Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, KB (13 March 1719 – 25 May 1797), was a British Army officer, politician and peer. He served as a junior officer with the Pragmatic Army in the Dutch Republic and Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession. After changing his surname to Griffin in 1749, he commanded a brigade 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.
Early life
thumb|upright|left|[[Canting arms of Griffin: Sable, a griffin segreant argent beak and forelegs or]]
thumb|[[Quartering (heraldry)|Quartered arms of John Griffin Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden (1719–1797), Catton's English Peerage, 1790. Quarterly of eight: 1: Griffin; 2: ?; 3: Latimer; 4: De la Warr; 5: Howard; 6: de Warrenne, Earl of Surrey; 7: Mowbray; 8: Audley of Walden
Career
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 Low Countries 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.
Whitwell's aunt Elizabeth, Countess of Portsmouth agreed to leave him her interest in Audley End House if he changed his surname to Griffin: he did so in 1749, by a private act of Parliament, (22 Geo. 2. c. 2 ), becoming John Griffin Griffin. He became Member of Parliament for Andover in November 1749. Promoted to major-general on 12 September 1759, he became colonel of the 50th Regiment of Foot in October 1759 and colonel of the 33rd Regiment of Foot in May 1760. At Corbach, following the arrival of French reinforcements from Frankenberg, the allied army was forced to withdraw. He also commanded a brigade at the Battle of Warburg later that month where the allied army were more successful.
Griffin was appointed Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath on 11 April 1761 and inherited Audley End House outright when his aunt died in 1762. Promoted to lieutenant-general on 26 March 1765, he became colonel of the 1st Troop, Horse Grenadier Guards in March 1766 and was promoted to full general on 14 April 1778. During the political crisis in the early 1780s at the end of the American Revolutionary War he was generally a supporter of William Pitt the Younger. and for Griffin to be appointed Lord Lieutenant of Essex in November 1784. and was promoted to field marshal on 30 July 1796. He died on 25 May 1797.
thumb|center|Plan of the Battle of Warburg where Griffin led his brigade to victory
Family
thumb|Audley End House
In 1749 he married Anna Maria Schutz and in 1765 he married Catherine Clayton; there were no children from either marriage.