Sir William Crawford (born ~1260 - died ~1310) son of Sir Ronald Crawford and cousin to William Wallace, was motivated by the murder of his father to join the revolt as a captain to Wallace. He became second-in-command in the Wars for Scottish Independence after John Graham was killed at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. As shown to the right, Sir William commanded 400 heavy cavalry to run the English forces out of Scotland after the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. Soon after his return he became Governor of Edinburgh before leaving with Wallace to lay siege to York in 1298. In 1299 Sir William escorted Wallace to the court of King Phillip of France. While sailing from Scotland the Scots captured the pirate known as the "Red Reiver" (Richard Longoville) and later gained his amnesty from Phillip in Paris. While in France they commanded the Scots Guard in two military victories over the English. Sir William lived on a farm now known for Elcho Castle, near Perth.
Alternative Spellings
- Craufurd or Crawfurd in Scotland
References
- "The Life and Heroick Actions of the Renoun'd Sir William Wallace, General and Governor of Scotland," Blind Harry (Blin Hary or Henry the Minstrel), original personal manuscript, ca 1475.
- "Blind Harry's Wallace," William Hamilton of Gilbertfield, original publication 1722, Luath Press, Edinburgh, 1998, ISBN 0-946487-33-2.
