Matthew Crawley is a fictional character from the British television series Downton Abbey. He is portrayed by actor Dan Stevens and is introduced as a distant cousin of the Crawley family, who stands to inherit the family estate, Downton Abbey, after the death of the current heir. Matthew is a lawyer and a World War I veteran, known for his progressive views and strong sense of justice. Throughout the series, he develops a close relationship with Mary Crawley, the eldest daughter of the Crawley family, and their evolving romance is a central storyline in the show.