Born in Kintail, Huron County, Canada West, the son of James Crawford and Catherine McGregor, Crawford received his education in the Port Albert public school, and after spending six years in a flour mill in Port Albert moved to Gladstone, Manitoba.

At the time of the outbreak of the North-West Rebellion, he raised a company of volunteers, which was attached to the 95th Battalion, and was gazetted as captain.

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as the Liberal candidate for Beautiful Plains in 1886 and 1888, but was defeated by John Andrew Davidson in 1892.

A Liberal, he was defeated in 1908 losing to future Prime Minister of Canada Arthur Meighen.

This article incorporates text from The Canadian album: men of Canada, Vol.