Who was Jack Crawford?
Q: Who was Jack Crawford?
A: Jack Crawford was a sailor of the Royal Navy who is most famous for his actions at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797, and so is known as the "Hero of Camperdown."
Q: Where was he born?
A: He was born in the east end of Sunderland.
Q: How did he join the Royal Navy?
A: In 1796, he was press-ganged into the Royal Navy and served on HMS Venerable under Admiral Duncan.
Q: What happened during the Battle of Camperdown?
A: During the battle, part of the Venerable's mast was felled, including the admiral's flag. Lowering this flag would have been a sign of surrender, but Crawford climbed up to nail it back to its place.
Q: What recognition did he receive after this battle?
A: After his heroic act at Camperdown, Crawford received a government pension of £30 a year and later a silver medal from people of Sunderland.
Q: What happened to him later in life?
A: Later in life, Crawford fell on hard times and drunkenness and had to sell his medal. He eventually became one of many victims during an 1831 cholera epidemic and was buried in an unmarked grave.
Q: Has there been any criticism about Jack Crawford's heroics outside Sunderland?
A: Yes, outside Sunderland doubt has been raised about Crawford's heroics with some claiming that he acted without orders or may have even been drunk when performing his heroic act at Camperdown.
