DOCTOR JAMES CRAIK

British Army Surgeon (1751) General Practitioner (1751-54) Surgeon in Colonel Joshua Fry's Virginia Provincial Regiment (1754) Physician General of the US Army (1798)

Doctor James Craik is the illegitimate son of William Craik of Arbigland. The name of his mother has not been identified. Find A Grave Memorial

Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

James Craik (/kreɪk/; 1730 – 6 February 1814) was Physician General (precursor of the Surgeon General) of the United States Army, as well as George Washington's personal physician and close friend.

Education and emigration to America

Born on the estate of Arbigland in the parish of Kirkbean, County of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, Craik was the son of Robert Craik, a member of Parliament. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, then joined the British Army after graduation and served as an army surgeon in the West Indies until 1751. Craik then opened up a private medical practice in Norfolk, Virginia, and shortly thereafter relocated to Winchester, Virginia.

French and Indian War career

On 7 March 1754, Craik resumed his military career, accepting a commission as a surgeon in Colonel Joshua Fry's Virginia Provincial Regiment. While with this force, he became good friends with George Washington, at that time a lieutenant colonel in the regiment. Craik saw a great deal of action in various battles of the French and Indian War. He fought at the Battle of the Great Meadows and participated in the surrender of Fort Necessity, then accompanied General Edward Braddock on Braddock's unsuccessful attempt to recapture the region in 1755, treating Braddock's ultimately fatal wounds. Craik then served under Washington in actions in Virginia and Maryland, during various engagements with Indians.

Inter War years

After the war's end, Craik opened another medical practice at Port Tobacco, Maryland, and on 13 November 1760, he married Mariamne Ewell at her family's estate, Bel Air, located in Prince William County, Virginia. Marriamne would later become the great-aunt of Richard S. Ewell. They had six sons and three daughters. In 1760, he moved to Charles County, Maryland, where in 1765, he built La Grange near La Plata, Maryland. In both 1770 and 1784 he went on surveying expeditions with Washington, examining military claims in Pennsylvania and what is now West Virginia.

Revolutionary War career

With the outbreak of hostilities during the American Revolution, Craik once more rejoined the army. He served as an army surgeon, ultimately advancing to the second-highest post in army medicine. Craik warned Washington about the plots of the Conway Cabal, and treated the wounds of General Hugh Mercer at the Battle of Princeton and Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette at the Battle of Brandywine. Mercer died of his wounds, but La Fayette was more fortunate.

Washington persuaded him to move his practice to Alexandria, Virginia, where he built his house Vaucluse (plantation), where he died. He also had a town house at 117 South Fairfax Street, 209 Prince Street, and then 210 Duke Street.

Washington summoned Craik out of private practice in 1798 in connection with the Quasi-War against France, installing him as Physician General of the Army on 19 June of that year. After the conclusion of hostilities, Craik mustered out on 15 June 1800.

At Washington's death

As Washington's personal physician, Craik was one of three doctors to attend on him during his final illness on 14 December 1799. Washington complained of respiratory distress, described by Craik as "cynanche trachealis". When Washington proved unable to swallow medicines orally, Craik and the other two physicians (Dr. Elisha C. Dick and Dr. Gustavus Richard Brown) treated his condition with bloodletting, the application of various poultices, and a rectal solution of calomel and tartar. Washington's condition continued to deteriorate, but Craik and Brown decided against Dick's suggestion of a tracheotomy (which might have been lifesaving, but likely would have spread the infection and caused sepsis), and Washington died at 10:10 p.m. Brown and Craik co-published an account of their treatment in December 1800.

Craik died in Alexandria in 1814; he is buried in the graveyard of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in that city. Wikipedia: James Craik

Commentary by Janet Louise Milburn (Schultz)

An online book titled, "Monongahela of old, or, Historical sketches of south-western Pennsylvania to the year 1800.". Among other surgeons were Dr. James Kraik and Hugh Mercer, men of imperishable fame. They were both Scotchman and the latter having fled to Virginia from the service of the Pretender on the fatal field of the Culloden....There is more about these two men and how they both settled in Fayette county, Pennsylvania pg 49 of 255. Added by Janet Milburn 10/24/22 while searching for my Stewart ancestors who came to
America and settled in Virginia and died before 1830.

Source: The Monongahela of Old: or Historical Sketches of South-Western Pennsylvania to the year 1800, By James Veech (Printed for Private Distribution Only, Pittsburgh, 1858-1892), For mention of Doctor James Craik see pp. 44, 57 and 58