Lawrence Crawford

Lawrence Crawford (1611 – August, 1645) was a Scottish soldier who fought in English or other armies on the continent of Europe. However, his motives were not mercenary, as he fought only for Presbyterian principles or causes.

He was born in Glasgow, the son of Hugh Crawford of Kilbirnie and from a fairly early age served in the armies of Christian IV of Denmark, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine. Having travelled to England in the suite of Charles Louis, in 1641 Crawford was appointed Colonel of a regiment of foot which was to serve in Ireland in the army of the Earl of Ormonde to put down the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

From 1641 to 1643, Crawford remained in Ireland, although the English Civil War had broken out in England. In 1643, Ormonde agreed to a "cessation", or a truce with the rebel Irish Catholic Confederation, and to send troops to England to support the Royalists fighting for King Charles I. Crawford refused to serve with these troops, against the Presbyterian Covenanters. Ormonde had him arrested, but he escaped and made his way to England.

He was appointed by Parliament to be Sergeant Major General of Foot in the Parliamentarian Army of the Eastern Association, raised in the eastern counties of England. He almost immediately clashed with the army's Lieutenant General, Oliver Cromwell, over the appointment of Independents as officers. Parliament's agreement with the Scottish Covenanters, by which Presbyterianism was to be made the established religion of both countries meant that Crawford was legally in the right, but neither General would give way. The army's commander, the Earl of Manchester supported Crawford and the official position.

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