David Crawford (historian) facts for kids

David Crawford (sometimes spelled Crawfurd or Craufurd) was an important Scottish historian. He lived from 1665 to 1726. He held a special job called the Historiographer Royal for Scotland. This meant he was the official historian for the Scottish government.

About David Crawford's Life

David Crawford was born in 1665. His father was also named David Crawford. His mother was the daughter of James Crawford of Baidland. James Crawford was known for being against the Covenanters. The Covenanters were a group in Scotland who supported a certain type of Presbyterian church.

David Crawford went to the University of Glasgow. After his studies, he became a lawyer. Later, Queen Anne chose him to be the official historian for Scotland. This was a big honor.

David Crawford passed away in 1726. He had one daughter named Emilia. She never married and died in 1731.

David Crawford's Writings

In 1706, David Crawford published a book. It was called Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland. This book was about the Scottish Revolution that started in 1567. He said the book came from an old, real handwritten document. He got this document from a man named Sir James Baird.

Crawford dedicated his Memoirs book to the Earl of Glasgow. He wanted his book to offer a different view from another historian, George Buchanan. On July 27, 1706, Crawford wrote a letter. He told George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie that his new job as historiographer was bothering some people.

For over 100 years, people thought Crawford's book was exactly like the original old document. Famous historians like David Hume and William Robertson used it.

The Controversy Over His Book

However, in 1804, another historian named Malcolm Laing published a different book. It was called The Historie and Life of King James the Sext. This book was very similar to Crawford's Memoirs. Laing said that Crawford's book was not a true copy. He claimed Crawford had changed parts of the original document.

Laing said that Crawford removed parts that were not good for Mary, Queen of Scots. He also added information from other published books. These included works by William Camden, John Spottiswood, and James Melville of Halhill.

Another version of the original text was found. It was called the Newbattle manuscript. The Bannatyne Club published it in 1825. This helped people see the differences in Crawford's version.

Other Works by Crawford

David Crawford also wrote other books and plays:

• Courtship-a-la-mode, a comedy (1700)
• Ovidius Britannicus, or Love Epistles in imitation of Ovid (1703)
• Love at First Sight, a comedy (1704)

See also

• Marian civil war, a conflict related to the topic of Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland.