Background
He was born on 31 January 1758 at Bourtree Hill, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the son of George Lindsay-Crawford, 21st Earl of Crawford and Jean Hamilton.
He was born on 31 January 1758 at Bourtree Hill, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the son of George Lindsay-Crawford, 21st Earl of Crawford and Jean Hamilton.
He was educated in 1765 at, Eton, Berkshire, England.
He served in the British Army and was Lord Lieutenant of Fife. His military service included time in both the Infantry and the Cavalry: Commissioned in 1776 into British Army Colonel of the 2nd Battalion, 71st Regiment of Foot, Fraser"s Highlanders from 1782 to 1783 Colonel of the 63rd (The West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot between 1789 and 1808. Colonel of the Fife Light Horse between 1798–1803 Gained the rank of Major-General in 1805.
He was influential in the raising of a cavalry regiment in Fife in 1793 and 1794.
His correspondence on the subject are held in the British National Archives. He died on 30 January 1808 at age 49 at Rosel, Ayrshire, Scotland, unmarried.
He was buried at Crawford Lodge, Fife, Scotland. He died intestate and his estate was administered in June 1811.
On his death, the male line of the 17th Earl of Crawford became extinct, and his titles passed to the male heirs of the 9th Earl of Crawford, under the re-grant of 1642.