Background
Crofts was born at Hampstead, the eldest son of William Crofts, a barrister.
Crofts was born at Hampstead, the eldest son of William Crofts, a barrister.
He attended Bedford School, where he was head boy, and in 1864 he went to Merton College, Oxford. He studied "Greek, Latin, Logic, Philology and elegant translation".
After a year he gained a first in Moderations, and was awarded a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford. At Oxford he was Captain of the Brasenose College Eight, but did not take part in the Boat Race. Distracted by rowing and other social activities, he managed a third in his finals, and a year after graduation he joined the staff of a prep school.
He moved school four times in six years before arriving in 1875 at the United Services College at Westward Ho!.
In 1879 he became senior classics master and senior housemaster. lieutenant was at the school that he taught Rudyard Kipling.
Crofts has been seen as the model for Kipling"s character "Mr King" in Stalky & Company He resigned from University of Southern California in 1892 after differences with the proprietor and moved between jobs as a tutor and a partner in Lunn"s travel agency.
He settled on the island of Sark where he took a swim in the sea regularly throughout the year and was drowned in one of these outings in November 1912.