Herbert James Craig

Herbert Craig

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

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.^[2]

He served as Liberal MP for Tynemouth from 1906–18. 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.^[3]

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.^[4] He then sought government endorsement for his candidature but the 'coupon' was issued to his Unionist opponent,^[5] 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.^[6]

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 1920–29. He was an Aide-de-camp from 1926–29. He was awarded a CBE in 1929.^[7]

Election results

General Election January 1906: Tynemouth[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Herbert James 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[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Herbert James 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[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Herbert James 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 [11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Charles Percy	5,883	34.7
	Liberal	Comdr. Herbert James Craig	5,434	32.2
	Independent Labour	George Harold Humphrey	2,566	15.2
	Independent	Henry Gregg	2,495	14.8
	National Party	Dixon Scott	517	3.1
Turnout				63.8
Majority			449	2.5
	Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing

General Election 1922: Tynemouth [12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Alexander West Russell	11.244	48.1
	Liberal	Herbert James 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. Who Was Who
3. Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1918
4. Hansard
5. The Downfall of the Liberal Party by Trevor Wilson
6. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
7. Who Was Who
8. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.
9. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.
10. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.
11. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
12. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Herbert James Craig
• Who Was Who; http://www.ukwhoswho.com