Herbert Craig

Herbert James Craig CBE (30 September 1869 – 18 March 1934) was a British Liberal Party politician, businessman and barrister.

Herbert Craig

Background

He was born the son of James Craig MP and Kate Sophia Hould. He was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He married, in 1909, Elsie Rundall.[1]

Career

Craig was called to the bar in 1892 at the Inner Temple, and practised on the North-Eastern Circuit. He served as a Justice of the Peace in Northumberland.[1]

He served as Liberal MP for Tynemouth from 1906 to 1918. He was elected for the first time at 1906 general election, standing for the first time and gaining the seat from the Conservatives. He was re-elected at both the January 1910 December 1910 general elections.

He served in the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve (Tyneside division), reaching the rank of Commander during World War I.[2]

At the 1918 general election, when Liberal MPs were forced to choose between support for Lloyd George's government or Asquith's opposition, he was absent from the Maurice debate division.[3] He then sought government endorsement for his candidature but the 'coupon' was issued to his Unionist opponent,[4] and he lost his seat at the 1918.

He stood again at the 1922 general election, trying to regain his seat. However, he was unsuccessful and did not stand for parliament again.[5]

He was head of the firm, Borries, Craig & Co., Ltd, export merchants and shipbrokers, of Newcastle upon Tyne. He was a Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteers and commanded the Tyne Division from 1920 to 1929. He was an Aide-de-camp from 1926 to 1929. He was appointed a CBE in 1929.[1]

Election results
General election January 1906: Tynemouth[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Craig 4,286 54.9
Conservative Frederick Leverton-Harris 3,522 45.1
Turnout 86.6
Majority 764 9.8
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General election January 1910: Tynemouth[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Craig 4,487 52.9
Conservative E.G. Spencer-Churchill 3,993 47.1
Turnout 83.3
Majority 494 5.8
Liberal hold Swing
General election December 1910: Tynemouth[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Craig 4,106 51.1
Conservative Charles Percy 3,939 48.9
Turnout 79.4
Majority 177 2.2
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1918: Tynemouth [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Charles Percy 5,883 34.7
Liberal Herbert Craig 5,434 32.2
Independent Labour George Harold Humphrey 2,566 15.2
Independent Henry Gregg 2,495 14.8
National Dixon Scott 517 3.1
Turnout 63.8
Majority 449 2.5
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1922: Tynemouth [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Alexander Russell 11.244 48.1
Liberal Herbert Craig 6,787 29.0
Labour George Harold Humphrey 5,362 22.9
Turnout 83.5
Majority 4,457 19.1
Unionist hold Swing

Sources
  • Who Was Who
  • British parliamentary election results 1885–1918, Craig, F. W. S.

References
  1. Who Was Who
  2. Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1918
  3. Hansard
  4. The Downfall of the Liberal Party by Trevor Wilson
  5. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  6. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.
  7. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
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