William Craik (politician)

William Craik
William Craik
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Maryland's 3rd district
	In office; December 5, 1796 – March 3, 1801
Preceded by	Jeremiah Crabb
Succeeded by	Thomas Plater
Personal details
Born	October 31, 1761; Port Tobacco, Charles County, Province of Maryland, British America
Died	February 9, 1807 (aged 45); Alexandria, District of Columbia, United States
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Ann Randolph Fitzhugh
Occupation	lawyer, judge, politician

William Craik (October 31, 1761 – February 9, 1807) was an American lawyer and planter who served as a United States representative from Maryland and as a state judge.[1]

Early and family life

Born near Port Tobacco, Maryland, the son of prominent physician Dr. James Craik, surgeon of the Continental Army and later President George Washington's personal physician, Craik attended Delameve School in Frederick County and later studied law. He married Ann (1784–1806), daughter of prominent Virginia planter and patriot William Fitzhugh.

Career

Admitted to the bar, Craik commenced practice in Port Tobacco and Leonardtown. In 1788, he was a delegate to the states convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution.[2]

Craik also farmed in Charles County using enslaved labor, owning 23 slaves in Charles County in 1790.[3] He moved to Baltimore and was appointed chief justice of the fifth judicial district of Maryland on January 13, 1793, and served until his resignation in 1796.

Craik was elected as a Federalist to the Fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jeremiah Crabb; he was reelected to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses and served from December 5, 1796, to March 3, 1801; again appointed chief justice of the fifth judicial district of Maryland and served from October 20, 1801, to January 28, 1802. During this time he resided in Frederick, Maryland,

Death and legacy

He died in Alexandria, Virginia in 1807, months after his wife, and was buried at her father's estate in nearby Fairfax County.[4]

References

- United States Congress. "William Craik (id: C000863)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Secretary of State of Maryland (1915). Maryland Manual 1914–1915: A Compendium of Legal, Historical and Statistical Information relating to the State of Maryland. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: The Advertiser-Republican.
1790 U.S. Federal Censusfor Charles County, Maryland p. 6 of 32
Alexandria Advertiser Feb 9, 1807 Died this morning, at 6 o'clock, Wm Craik, esq late a representative in congress. His friends are invited to attend his funeral from the house of William Fitzhugh, to Ravensworth, precisely at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

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[1] United States Congress. "William Craik (id: C000863)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

[2] United States Congress. "William Craik (id: C000863)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

[manual-2] Secretary of State of Maryland (1915). Maryland Manual 1914–1915: A Compendium of Legal, Historical and Statistical Information relating to the State of Maryland. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: The Advertiser-Republican.

[3] 1790 U.S. Federal Censusfor Charles County, Maryland p. 6 of 32

[4] Alexandria Advertiser Feb 9, 1807 Died this morning, at 6 o'clock, Wm Craik, esq late a representative in congress. His friends are invited to attend his funeral from the house of William Fitzhugh, to Ravensworth, precisely at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.