James Craggs the Younger

The Right Honourable
James Craggs
Secretary at War
In office
1717–1718
Preceded by William Pulteney
Succeeded by The Viscount Castlecomer
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
In office
1718–1721
Preceded by Joseph Addison
Succeeded by The Lord Carteret
Personal details
Born (1686-04-09)9 April 1686
Died 16 February 1721(1721-02-16) (aged 34)

James Craggs the Younger PC (9 April 1686  16 February 1721), was a British politician.

Life

Craggs was born at Westminster, the son of James Craggs the Elder. Part of his early life was spent abroad, where he made the acquaintance of George Louis, Elector of Hanover, afterwards King George I of Great Britain. In 1713 he became Member of Parliament for Tregony, in 1717 Secretary at War, and in the following year Secretary of State for the Southern Department. Craggs was implicated in the South Sea Bubble, but not so deeply as his father, whom he predeceased, dying on 16 February 1721, aged 34. Among Craggs's friends were Alexander Pope (who wrote the epitaph on his monument in Westminster Abbey), Joseph Addison and John Gay.

James Craggs left an illegitimate daughter, Harriot Craggs, by the noted dancer and actress Hester Santlow. Harriot married firstly in 1726 to Richard Eliot, having nine children including Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot and secondly in 1749 to John Hamilton by whom she had a son.

References

    Parliament of Great Britain
    Preceded by
    Edward Southwell
    George Robinson
    Member of Parliament for Tregony
    1713–1721
    With: Sir Edmund Prideaux, Bt 1713-1720
    Charles Talbot 1720-1721
    Succeeded by
    Charles Talbot
    Daniel Pulteney
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    William Pulteney
    Secretary at War
    1717–1718
    Succeeded by
    The Viscount Castlecomer
    Preceded by
    Joseph Addison
    Secretary of State for the Southern Department
    1718–1721
    Succeeded by
    The Lord Carteret
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