author
Austin Craig
1872–1949
An early historian of the Philippines, he is best remembered for helping introduce many readers to the life of José Rizal. His work sits at the crossroads of biography, education, and colonial-era scholarship.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in New York in 1872 and active as a teacher, historian, and writer, Austin Craig became closely associated with the study of Philippine history. He is especially known as one of the earliest biographers of José Rizal, the Filipino nationalist whose life and writings became the subject of Craig’s best-known books.
Craig worked in the Philippines during the American colonial period and was connected with the University of the Philippines, where he is described in reference sources as the first chair of its history department. His writing helped shape how English-language readers encountered Rizal in the early 20th century, especially through books such as The Story of José Rizal and Lineage, Life and Labors of José Rizal, Philippine Patriot.
He died in 1949. Today, he is remembered less as a literary stylist than as an energetic researcher and educator whose books became part of the early historical record on Rizal and modern Philippine studies.