Family and Education

b. c.1704, 1st surv. s. of Patrick Crauford, Edinburgh merchant, by his 2nd w. Jean, da. of Archibald Crauford of Auchenames and Crosbie. m. (1) ?1740, Elizabeth (d. 19 July 1746), da. and coh. of George Middleton of Errol, Perth, London banker, 2s.; (2) 22 Apr. 1750, Sarah, da. of Hew, 12th Lord Sempill [S], 1da. suc. fa. 1733.

Offices Held

Burgess, Glasgow 1725, Edinburgh 1732.

Biography

In 1740, Crauford, having inherited a fortune from his father, a wealthy merchant, and acquired another through his wife, was adopted by the Ayrshire opposition Whigs as an anti-Walpole candidate, standing against the sitting Member, General James Campbell, a government supporter.1 Returned after a contest, he voted against the Government. During the Forty-five he wrote to the provost of Glasgow, 26 Oct. 1745:

As your own Member is not here [on military service] and that the whole country is generally reflected on ... I should be glad to know what your town offered to do for your own and the country’s defence and what you and the neighbouring counties would probably have done if furnished with arms and properly encouraged with authority.2

In 1747 Pelham considered putting up a candidate against him but in the event he was re-elected without a contest. In 1753 he was described as ‘always with the Tories’.3

He died 10 Jan. 1778.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Edith Lady Haden-Guest

Notes

• 1. Gen. Campbell's mem. (1741), Loudoun mss.
• 2. HMC Laing, ii. 349.
• 3. Lists of Members 1747, 1753, Newcastle (Clumber) mss.