Croke was born in Falmouth, Cornwall on 1 February 1837,[1] the youngest son of Commander Wentworth Parsons Croke R. N. and Mary née Smith.
[3] Croke married Ida Frances Dickson (1838 – ?)
[4][5] In 1873 he was promoted to commander on the navy's retired list.
[7] In January 1874 Croke took a leave of absence and returned to England with his wife and daughter.
[8] He failed to return, and his position was filled in November by George Forsyth.