James Craggs the Elder

James Craggs the Elder (1657 – 16 March 1721), of Jermyn Street, Westminster and Charlton, Lewisham, Kent, was an English financier and Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons from 1702 to 1713.

Life Craggs was baptized on 10 June 1657, the eldest son of Anthony Craggs of Wolsingham, county of Durham, and his wife Anne Morcroft, daughter of Rev. Ferdinando Morcroft, DD, of Goswich, Lancashire, rector of Stanhope-in-Wardell, county Durham, and prebendary of Durham. He was educated at Bishop Auckland grammar school.

After following various callings in London, Craggs, who was a person of considerable financial ability, entered the service of the Duchess of Marlborough. Through her influence he was returned at the 1702 English general election as Member of Parliament for Grampound. He retained the seat until the 1713 British general election.

He married Elizabeth Richards, daughter of the Irish artillery officer Jacob Richards corn chandler, of Westminster on 4 January 1684. Their children included James Craggs the Younger; and Anne Craggs, wife of Robert Nugent, 1st Earl Nugent; Elizabeth, wife of Edward Eliot; and Margaret, wife, firstly of Samuel Trefusis, and secondly of Sir John Hinde Cotton.