John Crawford was employed as a coal miner in the Durham region until he and his whole family immigrated to America in 1913 aboard the RMS Lusitania.
Upon graduation from high school in 1918, Crawford began his career following his father by working as a coal miner in Elkins Mine #4 near Kingwood.
[5] Crawford began his professional career as a chemical engineer with the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company in 1931.
Crawford was an active member of the community in South Kingstown, serving as president of the Tavern Hall Club in 1943.
In 1963, the chemical engineering building at the University of Rhode Island was named Crawford Hall in his honor.