John Craufurd (MP, died 1814)
John Craufurd (c. 1742–1814) of Errol, Perth and Kinross, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1768 and 1790.
Early life
Craufurd was the son of
Political career
Craufurd hoped for a seat at
During the recess in 1771 he remained at home for once, where he persuaded his father to give him full possession of Errol. Mme du Deffand commented: "Il n’en est pas plus riche mais son credit en augmente et il aura la satisfaction de se pouvoir ruiner." In the House his attendance was erratic. He later became concerned about his father's determination to curb expenditure and entail all the family estates. He consulted William Mure on this and on his election prospects, particularly as Sir Lawrence Dundas had offered to bring him in elsewhere if he failed in Renfrewshire. He showed considerable skill in election intrigue in Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, and Perthshire, in the 1774 British general election and was returned as MP for Renfrewshire.[1]
In 1775 Craufurd induced Lord North to give him life tenure of his post as Chamberlain of Fife, hitherto held at pleasure. Shortly afterwards his absurd behaviour became as notorious as his gambling. He plagued his friends with his imaginary ailments, his 'ennui and jealousies', with requests to pay his debts 'pour le delivrer des Juifs', 'gate-crashed' parties, but seldom attended when invited. Selwyn wrote in December 1775 'I think verily he grows more tiresome every day, and everybody's patience is à bout.' At the
In the new Parliament he continued to keep a foot in each camp. Having sold his estates of Errol and Drumsoy, he was now well funded and renewed his solicitations on behalf of his brother James Craufurd. In May he was toadying to Lord North, but in July, when he had received nothing, he "took occasion to say everything disagreeable to Lord North that one could well imagine". Selwyn wrote in October 1781 "That abominable cortigiano-ism with his affected disinterestedness and noblesse d'âme make him intolerable." When he was in a quandary Craufurd usually made illness his excuse. Before the motion of censure against the Admiralty, Selwyn wrote "I hope that Government will send two yeomen of the guard to carry the Fish down in his blankets, for he pretends to have the gout ... He should be deposited ... and be fairly asked his opinion and forced to give it one way or the other en pleine assemblée."[1]
In 1784 in the expectation of a dissolution, Craufurd was planning to stand for Ayrshire as well as for Renfrewshire and Glasgow, and to put his brother in for the former and some friend in for the latter. When no immediate dissolution took place, he fell 'ill' and went to Bath. In the event, at the 1784 general election he did not attempt Renfrewshire, he had little chance in Ayrshire and he lost his seat at Glasgow Burghs.[1]
Craufurd did not contest an Ayrshire by-election of 1789. Coutts commented "I do not imagine he thinks of Ayr or Renfrew any more. Politics is by no means his natural bent; yet had he taken a public line early, few have better abilities." Glasgow Burghs fell vacant in 1790 and Craufurd won back his old seat in a by-election on 26 February 1790. After a few months, he lost it again at the 1790 general election and his bid for Dysart Burghs also failed.[1]
Later life
Soon after losing his seat, Craufurd fell seriously ill. In 1792 he went to Paris but was horrified by revolutionary excesses and returned home. Thereafter he did not try to re-enter Parliament and abandoned his Foxite friends. He died on 26 May 1814.[1]