1st Secret Service Agent killed in the Line of Duty when carriage he was riding in with President Theodore Roosevelt was struck by a streetcar.
William Craig was the 1st Secret Service Agent killed in the line of duty. He was a former bodyguard to Queen Victoria and served 12 years in the British cavalry. Craig, described as a "giant of a man," was blond haired, blue eyed and, at 6'4", he weighed in at 260 lbs. He immigrated to the United States in 1889, moving in with his brother Adam Craig in Chicago. Craig was well known in the city, as he was the "physical director" at the Armour Institute and at the Princeton-Yale school. He was an expert swordsman and a boxer. Craig was survived by his mother (a resident of 4334 Calumet Avenue), three sisters and four brothers (including Adam Craig and Hugh Craig).
He joined the Secret Service in 1900. In September of 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt went on a New England speaking tour. President Roosevelt, Massachusetts Governor Crane, George B. Cortlyou, and William Craig were in a carriage heading from Dalton to Lenox. In Pittsfield, at the foot of Howard's Hill (on what is now South Street), a speeding electric trolley car crashed into the carriage. Agent Craig tried to flag the trolley operator to get him to slow down, and when collision was unavoidable, stood up to protect Roosevelt with his own body.
Craig was thrown under the trolley and run over. Roosevelt was thrown 30 feet and suffered cuts and bruises but was not seriously injured. Cortlyou and Crane were uninjured. One horse was so badly injured that he was put down. The driver of the trolley was sentenced to six months jail time.
The President said of Craig, "He was a sturdy character and tremendously capable in performing his duties. My children thought a great deal of him, as we all did." Also, "I was fond of him. He was faithful and ready, and I regret his death more than I can say." The president referred to Craig as "my shadow."
On September 3, 2002, the 100th anniversary of Craig's death, the Secret Service placed a marker on his grave and held a ceremony in his honor.
William Craig was the 1st Secret Service Agent killed in the line of duty. He was a former bodyguard to Queen Victoria and served 12 years in the British cavalry. Craig, described as a "giant of a man," was blond haired, blue eyed and, at 6'4", he weighed in at 260 lbs. He immigrated to the United States in 1889, moving in with his brother Adam Craig in Chicago. Craig was well known in the city, as he was the "physical director" at the Armour Institute and at the Princeton-Yale school. He was an expert swordsman and a boxer. Craig was survived by his mother (a resident of 4334 Calumet Avenue), three sisters and four brothers (including Adam Craig and Hugh Craig).
He joined the Secret Service in 1900. In September of 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt went on a New England speaking tour. President Roosevelt, Massachusetts Governor Crane, George B. Cortlyou, and William Craig were in a carriage heading from Dalton to Lenox. In Pittsfield, at the foot of Howard's Hill (on what is now South Street), a speeding electric trolley car crashed into the carriage. Agent Craig tried to flag the trolley operator to get him to slow down, and when collision was unavoidable, stood up to protect Roosevelt with his own body.
Craig was thrown under the trolley and run over. Roosevelt was thrown 30 feet and suffered cuts and bruises but was not seriously injured. Cortlyou and Crane were uninjured. One horse was so badly injured that he was put down. The driver of the trolley was sentenced to six months jail time.
The President said of Craig, "He was a sturdy character and tremendously capable in performing his duties. My children thought a great deal of him, as we all did." Also, "I was fond of him. He was faithful and ready, and I regret his death more than I can say." The president referred to Craig as "my shadow."
On September 3, 2002, the 100th anniversary of Craig's death, the Secret Service placed a marker on his grave and held a ceremony in his honor.
1st Secret Service Agent killed in the Line of Duty when carriage he was riding in with President Theodore Roosevelt was struck by a streetcar.
William Craig was the 1st Secret Service Agent killed in the line of duty. He was a former bodyguard to Queen Victoria and served 12 years in the British cavalry. Craig, described as a "giant of a man," was blond haired, blue eyed and, at 6'4", he weighed in at 260 lbs. He immigrated to the United States in 1889, moving in with his brother Adam Craig in Chicago. Craig was well known in the city, as he was the "physical director" at the Armour Institute and at the Princeton-Yale school. He was an expert swordsman and a boxer. Craig was survived by his mother (a resident of 4334 Calumet Avenue), three sisters and four brothers (including Adam Craig and Hugh Craig).
He joined the Secret Service in 1900. In September of 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt went on a New England speaking tour. President Roosevelt, Massachusetts Governor Crane, George B. Cortlyou, and William Craig were in a carriage heading from Dalton to Lenox. In Pittsfield, at the foot of Howard's Hill (on what is now South Street), a speeding electric trolley car crashed into the carriage. Agent Craig tried to flag the trolley operator to get him to slow down, and when collision was unavoidable, stood up to protect Roosevelt with his own body.
Craig was thrown under the trolley and run over. Roosevelt was thrown 30 feet and suffered cuts and bruises but was not seriously injured. Cortlyou and Crane were uninjured. One horse was so badly injured that he was put down. The driver of the trolley was sentenced to six months jail time.
The President said of Craig, "He was a sturdy character and tremendously capable in performing his duties. My children thought a great deal of him, as we all did." Also, "I was fond of him. He was faithful and ready, and I regret his death more than I can say." The president referred to Craig as "my shadow."
On September 3, 2002, the 100th anniversary of Craig's death, the Secret Service placed a marker on his grave and held a ceremony in his honor.
William Craig was the 1st Secret Service Agent killed in the line of duty. He was a former bodyguard to Queen Victoria and served 12 years in the British cavalry. Craig, described as a "giant of a man," was blond haired, blue eyed and, at 6'4", he weighed in at 260 lbs. He immigrated to the United States in 1889, moving in with his brother Adam Craig in Chicago. Craig was well known in the city, as he was the "physical director" at the Armour Institute and at the Princeton-Yale school. He was an expert swordsman and a boxer. Craig was survived by his mother (a resident of 4334 Calumet Avenue), three sisters and four brothers (including Adam Craig and Hugh Craig).
He joined the Secret Service in 1900. In September of 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt went on a New England speaking tour. President Roosevelt, Massachusetts Governor Crane, George B. Cortlyou, and William Craig were in a carriage heading from Dalton to Lenox. In Pittsfield, at the foot of Howard's Hill (on what is now South Street), a speeding electric trolley car crashed into the carriage. Agent Craig tried to flag the trolley operator to get him to slow down, and when collision was unavoidable, stood up to protect Roosevelt with his own body.
Craig was thrown under the trolley and run over. Roosevelt was thrown 30 feet and suffered cuts and bruises but was not seriously injured. Cortlyou and Crane were uninjured. One horse was so badly injured that he was put down. The driver of the trolley was sentenced to six months jail time.
The President said of Craig, "He was a sturdy character and tremendously capable in performing his duties. My children thought a great deal of him, as we all did." Also, "I was fond of him. He was faithful and ready, and I regret his death more than I can say." The president referred to Craig as "my shadow."
On September 3, 2002, the 100th anniversary of Craig's death, the Secret Service placed a marker on his grave and held a ceremony in his honor.
Bio by: sadlady
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