James Craggs

Statesman

In the chapel of St George in Westminster Abbey, at the west end of the nave, is a statue to James Craggs the younger, unveiled in 1727. The monument was designed by James Gibbs and executed by Giovanni Guelfi and Francis Bird.

It was originally much larger and was placed at the west end of the south aisle of the nave. It was then moved into what is now St George's chapel. In the 1920s it was reduced in size and the parts that were retained were placed on the window sill in the chapel. A few parts of the original surround are still in the Abbey collection.

The inscription on the urn is in Latin, which can be translated:

James Craggs: Secretary of State to the King of Great Britain, Privy Counsellor: darling and delight alike of Prince and People: he lived, above titles, above envy, for 35 years - alas, how few. He died 16 February 1720 [Old Style dating].

His sorrowing sisters placed this here A[nn] Knight, E[lizabeth] Eliot, M[argaret].

The names of the sisters cannot be seen from the front of the monument. The English section, composed by Alexander Pope, was re-cut on a new slab when the memorial was reduced and reads:

Statesman, yet friend to Truth, of Soul sincere In Action faithful and in Honour clear Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end Who gain'd no Title, and who lost no Friend Ennobled by Himselfe, by all approv'd Prais'd, wept, and honour'd by the Muse he lov'd. A. POPE

His life

James was buried in a vault in the north aisle of Henry VII's chapel. He was born in Westminster on 9th April 1686, the only surviving son of James Craggs (1657-1721), politician and post master general, and his wife Elizabeth nee Richards. James the elder was buried at Charlton in Kent. They had three daughters (all of whom married Members of Parliament) but James the younger was the only son who survived infancy. Anne married John Knight and secondly John Newsham, Elizabeth married Edward Eliot, and Margaret married Samuel Trefusis.

Much of his early life was spent in Europe where he was resident British minister in Spain. He became a member of Parliament, cofferer to the Prince of Wales, and Secretary of State. He died of smallpox in 1721, a month before his father. His interment took place at night to avoid any potential riots (due to the South Sea bubble controversy he had been concerned in).

By actress Hester Santlow (died 1773) he had an illegitimate daughter Harriot who married politician Richard Eliot and their son was created Baron Eliot. Her second marriage was to the Hon. John Hamilton and their son became 2nd Viscount Hamilton.