Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Crawfurd, George
CRAWFURD, GEORGE (d. 1748), genealogist and historian, was the third son of Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn. He was the author of a ‘Genealogical History of the Royal and Illustrious Family of the Stewarts from the year 1034 to the year 1710; to which are added the Acts of Sederunt and Articles of Regulation relating to them; to which is prefixed a General Description of the Shire of Renfrew,’ Edinburgh, 1710; ‘The Peerage of Scotland, containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom,’ Edinburgh, 1716; and ‘Lives and Characters of the Crown Officers of Scotland, from the Reign of King David I to the Union of the two Kingdoms, with an Appendix of Original Papers,’ vol. i. 1726. The ‘Description of the Shire of Renfrew’ was published separately, with a continuation by Semple, at Paisley in 1788, and a second edition, with a continuation by Robertson, also at Paisley, 1818. The works, though now practically superseded, display considerable learning and industry. When Simon Fraser resolved to lay claim to the barony of Lovat, he employed Crawfurd to investigate the case, and to supply materials to support his pretensions. It is said to have been chiefly due to the researches of Crawfurd that Fraser obtained a favourable decision, but he nevertheless declined to pay Crawfurd anything for his trouble. Justly indignant at his meanness, Crawfurd used to call him one of the greatest scoundrels in the world, and threaten if he met him to break every bone in his body. The ‘Letters of Simon, Lord Fraser, to George Crawfurd, 1728–30,’ while the case was in progress, are published in the ‘Spottiswoode Miscellany,’ 400–9. He died at Glasgow, 24 Dec. 1748. By his wife, Mary, daughter of James Anderson, author of ‘Diplomata Scotiæ,’ he had four daughters.
[Scots Mag. x. 614; Spottiswoode Miscellany as above; Anderson's Scottish Nation; Cat. of the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.]