Family and Education

b. 1786, o.s. of John Crawford of Crawfordsburn, bro. of Anne, w. of James Alexander, 1st Earl of Caledon [I], by Maria, da. of John Kennedy of Cultra, co. Down. educ. Trinity, Dublin 1 Nov. 1802, aged 16; L. Inn 1806. unm.

Offices Held

Maj. N. Down militia 1818.

Biography

Crawford was descended on both sides from Scots families who bought Clanbrassil lands in Down about 1670. His father was a supporter of the Londonderry interest in Down elections, and in 1812 he proposed marriage, unavailingly, to Lady Emily Stewart. He was returned for Old Sarum on the interest of his cousin, the 2nd Earl of Caledon, and supported administration without figuring in debate, except once, in defence of the character of the Irish judge Baron M’Lellan, 2 June 1819. He voted with ministers on 29 Mar., 18 May and 10 June 1819. He made way for another member of the family soon after being returned a second time, July 1820. On his death in March 1827 his sister Mabel Fridiswid’s husband, William Sharman, took the additional name of Crawford in accordance with his father-in-law’s will and acquired the Crawfordsburn estate.

PRO NI, Sharman Crawford mss D856/D/10, F/26; Burke Irish LG (1904), 116, 303.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes