 Born in Scotland circa 1757, he was the third son of John Craigie, of Kilgraston in the Ochil Hills, by his cousin and wife Anne Craigie, daughter of President Craigie.His grandfather, Lawrence, was a Baron of the Exchequer and the brother of Robert Craigie, Lord President of the Court of Session.Craigie came to Quebec in 1781 as deputy Commissary-General for the British Army there.