Henry Leighton Crawford

Henry Leighton Crawford CMG (16 November 1855 – 18 February 1931) was a British colonial administrator who served his career in Ceylon.

Early life and education Crawford was born in Jerusalem on 16 November 1855, the son of Rev Henry Crawford of Chelsfield, Kent. He was educated at Clifton College and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Career Crawford entered the Ceylon civil service as a writer in 1877 attached to the Colombo Kachcheri. In the succeeding six years he served at Kandy, Badulla and Galle Kachcheris, and then as acting magistrate of Kegalla, Balapitiya, Matara, Balapitimodara, Tongalla and Kalpitya. In 1883, he was assistant to the Government Agent of the Western Province, and from 1887 to 1890 was acting District Judge. In 1890, he served as assistant Colonial Secretary and in addition was Secretary of the Central Irrigation Board. From 1894 to 1896, he was acting assistant Colonial Secretary and then confirmed in the appointment. He also served as a member of the Executive and Legislative Council of Ceylon. He retired in 1911.