author
Sir Henry Craik
1846–1927
A Scottish educator, civil servant, and Unionist politician, he helped shape public education in Scotland and later carried those interests into Parliament. He also wrote widely on history and literature, including work on Jonathan Swift and Scottish history.
1 Audiobook
Life of Edward Earl of Clarendon — Volume 02
by Sir Henry Craik
About the author
Born in Glasgow on 18 October 1846, he studied at the University of Glasgow and Balliol College, Oxford, before entering the Education Department. He rose through the civil service and became the first Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Education Department, a role in which he had a strong influence on the development of Scottish secondary education.
After leaving the civil service, he entered politics as a Unionist and served in Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities. Alongside his public work, he was also an active man of letters, known as an author, biographer, and editor.
His writing ranged across history, education, and literary subjects. Among his notable interests was Jonathan Swift, and he also published substantial work on Scottish history, showing the same scholarly energy that marked his career in public service.