William Crozier (artillerist)

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William Crozier (artillerist) : biography

February 19, 1855 – November 10, 1942

Crozier quickly grasped the possibilities of this chart in helping to fix responsibility for action or lack of action and had it introduced in various branches of the Ordnance Department. During 1918 these charts were used in the United States arsenals, in the production of naval aircraft, and in other government work, such as that of the Emergency Fleet, the Shipping Board, etc.

Memorials

On his death he bequeathed to Philadelphia Museum ‘ The Crozier Collection ‘ which is a valuable collection of antique crystal, porcelain and china. This prized collection is today available for public viewing in Philadelphia.

Upon her death Mary Williams Crozier left a considerable sum to West Point for the purposes of the erection of a hall which was built and is called Crozier Hall as a fitting memorial to General William Crozier.

Mary Williams Crozier also left a very considerable balance of her estate in her will to The Connecticut College, New London which is remembered in the form of College Center at Crozier-Williams. It is affectionatly known today as The Cro, also a part of the building known as ‘Crows Nest’. Already at Connecticut College is The Williams School which represents the Williams Family long connection with New London.

Biography

Born at Carrollton, Ohio on February 19, 1855, Crozier was the son of Robert Crozier (1827–1895), Chief Justice of Kansas in 1863–1866, and a United States Senator from that state from December 1873 to February 1874. He in turn was descended from Robert Crozier, the General Secretary of The Methodist Conference and famous preacher in Ireland. William’s father left Crocknacreevy in County Fermanagh in Ireland to go to the United States. William married Mary Williams on October 31, 1913; she was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williams of New London and Washington. The wedding took place at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, London. He is buried Arlington National Cemetery Section East Site S-28 with his wife Mary Williams Crozier.

Crozier’s ancestors were of Norman descent and first emerged when they joined the armies of William the Conqueror to invade England in 1066. John Crozier came to Ireland as a Cavalry Officer in 1630 with Lord Strafford, prior to that he came from Redworth Hall, County Durham and his family had been there since 1407. Before that time they were in Westmorland. Robert Crozier in 1262 obtained a grant of land from the Abbot of St Bees in Cumberland. In the family arms, which are used to this day, are four bees and a cross indicating where they obtained their first grant.

The family consisted of Sir William (household steward to John O’Gaunt)and Sir John Crozier, who had many manors in the home counties near to London and lived at Stoke D’Abernon in Surrey. Also in the family was William Crozier in the 15th century who was Canon of Glasgow, Archdeacon of Teviotdale and he held many prebends, was a Papal Legate, one of the founding fathers of St Andrews University and was a Professor of Logic, he is well recorded in history and was connected to the Dougla’s.

Crozier graduated at West Point in 1876, was appointed a second lieutenant in the 4th Artillery, and served on the Western frontier for three years against the Sioux and Bannock Indians.