CRAIG, James Alexander. Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario 5.3.1855 — Toronto 16.5.1932. Canadian Linguist. Son of James Craig, a farmer, and Rachel Cughan. Studies of philosophy at McGill (B.A. 1880 and M.A. 1883) and theology at Yale (B.D. 1883). Ordained 1883. Then three years further studies at Leipzig (Ph.D. 1886 under Delitzsch). Taught five years at Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati and briefly at Oberlin College. One year further studies: Assyriology in British Museum and Arabic at Berlin. From 1893 Professor of Oriental Languages at University of Michigan. He was a Semitist, who mainly taught Hebrew, other Semitic languages and New Testament Greek, but at the beginning also Sanskrit. In 1912 he left the university for personal reasons and engaged in lumber business in Canada. Later taught Oriental languages at McGill University (Montreal) and University of Toronto. Retired c. 1925 and moved to Paris. Married 1899 Marion Matheson Innes, two daughters.
Publications: Mainly Assyriological works.
Sources: The University of Michigan. An Encyclopedic Survey. 2, 1951, 665f.; B.A. Hinsdale & I.N. Demmmon, History of the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor 1906 quoted in http://umhistory.dc.umich.edu/history/Faculty_History/C/Craig,_James_Alexander.html; Bulletin of Yale University. Obituary Record 91, 1932, 257f.; www.lib.umich.edu/faculty-history/faculty/james-alexander-craig/memorial.
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