Memorable Manitobans: Richard W. Craig (1877-1966)

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Richard W. Craig
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Educator, lawyer, MLA (1923-1927).

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Richard W. Craig
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Born at Underwood, Ontario on 26 August 1877, son of William John Craig and Jane Hector, brother-in-law of Annie Josephine Hogg Campbell, he was educated at Port Elgin (Ontario), Winnipeg Collegiate Institute, and the University of Manitoba (BA 1897, LLB 1904). He was Principal of several public and high schools from 1897 to 1903, including Tamarisk School (1897), Elkhorn School (1898-1899), and Carman School (1900-1901).

Called to the Manitoba Bar in 1905, he was Crown Prosecutor for Winnipeg (1910-1912). He was made a King’s Counsel in 1916, and served as a Bencher of the Manitoba Law Society (1916-1922). He was a member of the Winnipeg School Board (1911-1921) and Chairman of the Board (1920-1921). He was a Member of the University Council for several years and held various offices in the Manitoba and Canadian Bar Associations.

On 12 September 1906, he married Marguerite Maud Hogg (c1882-?, daughter of the Reverend Joseph Hogg of Winnipeg) and they had three children: Hector Joseph Craig (1910-1976), Marjorie Alice Craig (1912-?, wife of Barclay Wallace Pitfield), and Josephine Arthur Craig (1918-?, wife of R. E. Curran). He was a member of the Manitoba Club, St. Charles Country Club, Masons, and St. Andrews Society. He served as President of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg (1918-1919) and Association of Canadian Clubs (1920-1921).

He was elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1922, representing the Progressive Party, and served as Attorney-General (1922-1927) and Minister of Telephones and Telegraphs (1925-1927). He did not stand for re-election in the 1927 general election.

He died at Victoria, British Columbia on 16 July 1966 and was buried in the Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery. He is commemorated by Craig Street in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Ontario birth registration, Ancestry.

Marriage registration [Richard W. Craig, Marguerite Maud Hogg], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Vote Progressive for a united province,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 July 1922, page 5.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1925.

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

Death registration, British Columbia Vital Statistics.

Obituary [Hector J. Craig], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 March 1976, page 50.

We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 February 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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