He was born in Canada in 1800 the son of John Craigie and his wife Susanna Coffin (widow of James Grant).
He joined the Royal Navy in 1811 and spent his whole life there, slowly rising through the ranks.
Early in his life he was involved in action, when on board HMS Medway in the capture of USS Syren in July 1814.
[1] By 1823 he had reached the rank of lieutenant and was serving on HMS Cameleon in 1824 when she captured an Algerian brig.
In February 1855 he was appointed chairman of the Transport Board, organising supplies to the Crimean War.