James Craggs the Younger (9 April 1686 – 16 February 1721), son of James Craggs the Elder, was born at Westminster. Part of his early life was spent abroad, where he made the acquaintance of George Louis, Elector of Hanover, afterwards King George I. In 1713 he became member of parliament for Tregony, in 1717 Secretary at War, and in the following year Secretary of State for the Southern Department. Craggs was implicated in the South Sea Bubble, but not so deeply as his father, whom he predeceased, dying on 16 February 1721. Among Craggs's friends were Alexander Pope (who wrote the epitaph on his monument in Westminster Abbey), Joseph Addison, and John Gay.
James Craggs left an illegitimate daughter Harriot Craggs by the noted dancer and actress Hester Santlow. Harriot married firstly in 1726 Richard Eliot, having 9 children including Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot and secondly in 1749 to John Hamilton by whom she had a son.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Pulteney |
Secretary at War 1717–1718 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Castlecomer |
| Preceded by Joseph Addison |
Secretary of State for the Southern Department 1718–1721 |
Succeeded by The Lord Carteret |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Edward Southwell George Robinson |
Member of Parliament for Tregony with Sir Edmund Prideaux, Bt 1713-1720 Charles Talbot 1720-1721 1713–1721 |
Succeeded by Charles Talbot Daniel Pulteney |