Francis Burton Craige (March 13, 1811 – December 30, 1875) was an editor, lawyer, and U.S.
congressional representative
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ad ...
from the south fork of the
Yadkin River five miles from Salisbury, North Carolina. He was the youngest son of David and Mary Foster Craige.
Personal life
As a child, he attended a classical private school in
Salisbury and in 1829, he graduated from
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1832 at the age of just 21, commencing practice in Salisbury. In 1836 Craige married Elizabeth Phifer Erwin, granddaughter of
Matthew Locke (U.S. Congress)
Matthew Locke (1730September 7, 1801) was a general during the American Revolutionary War, a wagon driver, and a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1793 and 1799.
Personal and early Life
Locke was born to John Locke (1700, England â ...
and had 5 children; James Alexander was born in 1841, Kerr in 1843, Francis Burton, Jr., in 1846, Mary Elizabeth in 1848, and Annie Erwin in 1852.
Craige died in
Concord, North Carolina on December 30, 1875, while attending the Cabarrus County Superior Court. He was buried in the Old English Cemetery in
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, United States; it has been the county seat of Rowan County since 1753 when its territory extended to the Mississippi River. Located northeast of Charlotte and within its metropolita ...
.
Career
While studying law, Craige was an editor and proprietor of the newspaper Salisbury Western Carolinian (1829-1831). Under his editorship, he made the newspaper one of chief advocates of
Nullification in North Carolina, suggesting full co-operation with South Carolina in its ongoing dispute with
Andrew Jackson.
Craige was one of the last borough representatives in the
State House of Representatives from 1832 to 1834. In 1835, Craige was defeated by
Abraham Rencher
Abraham Rencher (August 12, 1798 – July 6, 1883) was a politician from the state of North Carolina. His career included: Congressman; Chargé d'affaires to Portugal; and Governor of New Mexico Territory.
Biography
Rencher was born near Ral ...
while challenging him for his seat in Congress.
Later in his career, he was elected as a
Democrat from the 33rd to the 36th U.S. Congresses (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861). He held additional posts including Chairman, Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, (33rd Congress), and was a delegate to the
Provisional Congress of the Confederate States meeting in
Richmond, Virginia
(Thus do we reach the stars)
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, map_caption = Location within Virginia
, pushpin_map = Virginia#USA
, pushpin_label = Richmond
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from July 1861 to February 1862.
In 1847, he was awarded a master's degree by
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was also active in
Episcopal Church (United States).
Legacy
Burton Craige left his legacy in the form of a freshman residence hall at his alma mater. Crusty craige <3 facts
References
Retrieved on 2009-04-14
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Footnotes
1811 births
1875 deaths
Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
People of North Carolina in the American Civil War
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
North Carolina lawyers
Deputies and delegates to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American lawyers
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