Robert Craig (1792 – November 25, 1852) was a politician and longtime member of the Virginia House of Representatives and

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

, serving many terms in both bodies.

Craig County, Virginia Craig County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,892. Its county seat is New Castle. Craig County is part of the Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Nestled in the ...

is named in his honor.

Biography

Born near Christiansburg, Virginia, Craig attended Washington College (now

Washington and Lee University , mottoeng = "Not Unmindful of the Future" , established = , type = Private liberal arts university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.092 billion (2021) , president = William C. Dudley , provost = Lena Hill , city = Lexington ...

) in Lexington, Virginia. He graduated from Lewisburg Academy in

Greenbrier County Greenbrier County () is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977. Its county seat is Lewisburg. The county was formed in 1778 from Botetourt and Montgomery counties in Virginia. History P ...

(now

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

). After graduating, Craig engaged in agriculture, before being elected to and serving in the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-number ...

in 1817 and 1818. He worked as a member of the

Virginia Board of Public Works The Virginia Board of Public Works was a governmental agency which oversaw and helped finance the development of Virginia's transportation-related internal improvements during the 19th century. In that era, it was customary to invest public funds ...

from 1820–1823, before being elected again to the Virginia House, serving from 1825–1829. Craig was elected as a

Jacksonian Democrat Jacksonian democracy was a 19th-century political philosophy in the United States that expanded suffrage to most white men over the age of 21, and restructured a number of federal institutions. Originating with the seventh U.S. president, An ...

to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses (March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1832, so he resumed agricultural pursuits. Craig was elected again as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and reelected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1841). He served as chairman of the "Committee on Revolutionary Claims" from 1837 to 1840, but did not seek renomination in 1840. Craig moved to

Roanoke County, Virginia Roanoke County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the unincorporated Ca ...

in 1842 and resumed agricultural pursuits. He was elected again to the State House of delegates, serving one term, from 1850–1852. He died on his plantation, "Green Hill," near Salem, Virginia, on November 25, 1852. He was interred in the family burying ground there.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Robert 1792 births 1852 deaths People from Christiansburg, Virginia Washington and Lee University alumni Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia 19th-century American politicians Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia People from Salem, Virginia