George W. Croft

George William Croft (December 20, 1846 – March 10, 1904) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, father of Theodore Gaillard Croft.

George William Croft
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1903 – March 10, 1904
Preceded by	W. Jasper Talbert
Succeeded by	Theodore G. Croft
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Aiken County
In office November 28, 1882 – December 24, 1883
In office January 8, 1901 – February 22, 1902
Member of the South Carolina Senate
In office 1880
Personal details
Born	December 20, 1846 Newberry County, South Carolina
Died	March 10, 1904 (aged 57) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Aiken, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	South Carolina Military Academy University of Virginia
Profession	attorney
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1864–1865

Born in Newberry County, South Carolina, Croft attended the common schools in Greenville, South Carolina. He entered the South Carolina Military Academy at Charleston in 1863. Along with all the other cadets at the Citadel, he was mustered into the Confederate States Army in 1864 and served until the close of the Civil War.

He attended the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1866 and 1867, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1869 and commenced practice in Aiken, South Carolina, in 1870. He served as president of the State bar association.

He served as member of the State House of Representatives from 1882–1883 and 1901–1902. He served in the State Senate in 1880.

Croft was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-eighth Congress and served from March 4, 1903, until his death from a splinter[1] in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 1904. While serving in Congress, he proposed the idea of building a post office in downtown Aiken. Upon his death, his son Theodore G. Croft was elected to finish his father's term in Congress. His son carried on the idea of building the post office.[2] He was interred in St. Thaddeus' Episcopal Churchyard, Aiken, South Carolina.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

Sources

1. SPLINTER KILLS CONGRESSMAN; Representative Croft Injured His Thumb and Blood Poisoning Followed., in the New York Times; published March 11, 1904
2. Lord, Philip (22 February 1990). "Old Aiken Post Office Sold". Aiken Standard.

• United States Congress. "George W. Croft (id: C000921)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• George W. Croft, late a representative from South Carolina, Memorial addresses delivered in the House of Representatives and Senate frontispiece 1905