Background
James Craik was born in 1730 at Arbigland near Dumfries, Scotland. He was the illegitimate son of William Craik, 1703 -1798, an agricultural pioneer and landowner.
James Craik was born in 1730 at Arbigland near Dumfries, Scotland. He was the illegitimate son of William Craik, 1703 -1798, an agricultural pioneer and landowner.
Craik studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
In 1750 Craik emigrated to America and opened up a private medical practice in Norfolk, Virginia, and shortly thereafter relocated to Winchester, Virginia, where he was also surgeon at the fort. He was commissioned surgeon in Colonel Fry’s regiment March 7, 1754. In the following year he was at the battle of Great Meadows, and attended to Braddock’s wounds at Monongabela, July 3, 1755. When Colonel Washington was made commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, August 14, 1755 Craik became his chief medical officer. He built a house on a fine plantation at Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland.
In the autumn of 1770, Washington and Craik went by horseback and canoe into the wilds along the Ohio and the Kanawha to make a “location” of land granted by the Crown to officers and men who had fought in the French and Indian War. In 1777 Washington offered Craik the appointment of senior physician and surgeon of the hospital of the middle district which “includes the States between North or Hudson’s River and the Potomac, ” or of assistant director-general. Craik became assistant director- general, organizing the hospitals for the French army when Rochambeau arrived at Newport, Rhode Iskand. When the medical department of the army was reorganized in 1780, he was made one of the chief hospital physicians, and, in 1781, Congress appointed him chief physician and surgeon of the army. He served until December 23, 1783.
As a close friend Craik warned Washington of the “Conway Cabal, ” naming General Mifflin as one of the party against him. During his first presidential year Washington while ill wrote to the Honorary James McHenry about Craik: “Could it be made consistent with his advantage to be near me, I am sure it would be highly pleasing to me. . " Craik was commissioned director general in the hospital department in 1798. When war with France was feared, Washington became commander-in-chief as lieutenant-general on condition that Craik was to be physician- general. The latter was appointed, July 19, 1798, being honorably discharged, June 15, 1800. On Dec. 14, 1799, about nine in the morning, Craik arrived at Mount Vernon to attend Washington, ill of “acute laryngitis. ” He saw that little could be done, so rapid was the course of the disease, but bled the patient afresh and prescribed certain medicines. About ten in the evening of the same day Washington died.
Craik’s only known published writing deals with this illness, A Sermon Occasioned by the Death of Gen. Washington . Preached December 29, 1799. By the Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff, A. M. . To which is Added, —An Appendix, Giving a Particular Account of the Behaviours of Gen. Washington, During his Distressing Illness, Also of the Nature of the Complaint of which he died. By Doctors Janies Craik and Elisha C. Dick, Attending Physicians (1800). The Appendix, signed “James Craik, Attending Physician” and “Elisha C. Dick, Consulting Physician, ” is dated from Alexandria, Virginia, December 30. Dr. Gustavus Brown, the other consultant was not present to sign the statement. A clause in Washington’s will runs: “To my compatriot in arms, and old and intimate friend, Dr. Craik, I give my bureau (or, as the cabinet makers call it, tambour secretary), and the circular chair, an appendage of my study. ” For several years before he died, Craik and his wife lived with their daughter-in-law, Mrs. George W. Craik, near Alexandria. He had a healthy, cheerful old age.
Dr. Craik was distinguished for his military and medical service during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. He fought at the Battle of the Great Meadows and participated in the surrender of Fort Necessity. He is also remembered as a George Washington's personal physician and close friend.
On November 13, 1760, Craik married Mariamne Ewell of Prince William County, Virginia.
