A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Craigie, Robert
CRAIGIE. (Captain, 1839. f-p., 20; h-p., 16.)
Robert Craigie, born, we believe, in 1800, is descended of the Craigies of Rilgraston, in Perthshire.
This officer entered the Navy, 22 March, 1811, as a Volunteer, on board the Arethusa 38, Capt. Fras. Holmes Coffin, under whom, and Capt. Aug. Brine of the Medway 74, he served in the West Indies and at the Cape of Good Hope, nearly the whole time as Midshipman, until March, 1815. During the next seven years he appears to have been successively employed, on the Home, South American, and East India stations, on board the Prince 98, Capt. Edm. Boger, Ramillies 74, Capt. Thos. Boys, Tyne 26, Capt. Gordon Thos. Falcon, Glasgow 50, Capt. Bentinck Cavendish Doyle, and Curlew sloop, Capt. Robt. Graham Dunlop. On 13 July, 1822, Mr. Craigie became Acting-Lieutenant of the Leander 50, bearing the flag of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood; and on his arrival home from India he was officially promoted by commission dated 9 Jan. 1823. Joining, in April of the same year, the Naiad 46, Capt. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, he next served for three years and a half on the Mediterranean station, where we find him in command of the boats at the cutting out of a Sardinian vessel from under the fire of the batteries at Bona. He afterwards officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to Hon. Sir H. Blackwood when Commander-in-Chief at the Nore; and, while a passenger on board H.M.S. Clio, was noticed as having eminently contributed by his zeal and activity to her preservation when nearly lost on the coast of Northumberland. On 16 Feb. 1828, immediately on his return from an experimental cruize, Mr. Craigie was awarded a second promotal commission; subsequently to which he commanded, from 4 Dec. 1835 until the close of 1839, the Scout 18, on the coast of Africa. During that period he liberated upwards of 2200 slaves – twice commanded, for periods of eleven and nine months, the squadron on the west coast – successfully conducted a very critical negociation with the King and Chiefs of Bonny in 1837 – and in 1838 acquired the thanks of the Governor of Mauritius for the “ahle and efficient” manner in which he discharged the duties of a special mission to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. In consequence of these and other important services, Capt. Craigie was rewarded, previous to the paying off of the Scout, with the rank of Post-Captain, 7 Nov. 1839. He has not since been employed.
Capt. Craigie married, in April, 1842, Charlotte, second daughter of the late Chas. Grant, Esq., and niece of the late Right Hon. Sir Wm. Grant, Master of the Rolls. Agent – John P. Muspratt.