William Gibson-Craig

Sir William Gibson Craig, 2nd Baronet FRSE (2 August 1797 – 12 March 1878), was a Scottish Advocate and politician.

The Right Honourable Sir William Gibson Craig PC
Portrait by Henry Raeburn
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh
In office 1841–1852
Member of Parliament for Midlothian
In office 1837–1841
Personal details
Born	2 August 1797
Died	12 March 1878 (aged 82)
Political party	Whig
Profession	Advocate, Politician

Life

He was born the first son of Sir James Gibson-Craig, 1st Baronet, and his wife, Anne Thomson. He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh and then privately in Yorkshire.[1]

William became an advocate in 1820. He was Lord Clerk Register and Keeper of the Signet from 1862 until his death. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1863.[2]

He was the Member of Parliament for Midlothian from 1837 to 1841 and for Edinburgh from 1841 to 1852. He was a Junior Lord of the Treasury in Lord John Russell's government from 1846 to 1852.[2]

He became a member of the Highland Society in 1824. In 1828 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being Thomas Allan.

He lived in Riccarton House to the south-west of Edinburgh.[3]

Family

His younger brother, James Thomson Gibson-Craig WS (1799-1886) was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[1]

He was married to Betsy Vivian. They had six children.

One of his grandchildren was the philanthropist Dorothy Brooke.[2]

Publications

• On Howard's Wheel Plough

References

1. https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf
2. Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd.
3. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8367042

• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

External links

• Family papers held by Heriot-Watt University
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Gibson-Craig