Macdonough Craven, often mistaken as MacDonough Craven and McDonough Craven, (November 11, 1858 – February 2, 1919) was an American naval officer, engineer, and politician. Born into a highly respected naval family, Craven was raised in Maryland and New York City and in 1876 was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. While at the academy, he was a below-average student, finishing 55th out of a class of 72. He was, however, a member of the school's inaugural football team and later helped chronicle the academy's football program. He graduated from the academy in 1883 and was given a discharge the same year.

Macdonough Craven
Street Cleaning Commissioner of New York City
In office
October 22, 1906 – July 8, 1907
Preceded byJohn McGaw Woodbury
Succeeded byWalter Bensel
Personal details
Born
Macdonough Craven

(1858-11-09)November 9, 1858
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
DiedFebruary 10, 1919(1919-02-10) (aged 60)
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
Resting placeGreen-Wood Cemetery, New York City, New York
Political partyNon-political
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
ProfessionNaval officer
Politician
Engineer
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
 Brazil
Branch/service United States Navy
 Brazilian Navy
Years of service1876–1883; 1898 (United States)
1894 (Brazil)
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/warsSpanish–American War

Following his naval service, Craven returned to New York and worked as an engineer on a number of transportation and sanitation projects. He was a long-time assistant of sanitation pioneer George E. Waring, Jr. Craven served for a brief period of time in the Brazilian navy during 1894, and returned to serve in the U.S. navy during the Spanish–American War. During the turn of the century, he rose through the ranks of New York City's sanitation department, eventually being appointed its commissioner in 1906. He served only for a few months; his predecessor had left the department in poor condition. Craven resigned in 1907 after a garbage collectors' strike. His health began to decline shortly afterwards and Craven died in 1919 at the age of 60.

Family and Naval Academy

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Craven was born on November 9, 1858, in Annapolis, Maryland.

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Craven was honorably discharged in 1883, but later served during the Spanish–American War and spent a short time in the Brazilian navy. He was for several years an assistant to George E. Waring, Jr., an engineer and sanitation expert.

Politics and later life

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During the early 1900s, Craven moved up through the ranks of the New York City Sanitation Department, eventually spending about six months as its commissioner, until a strike forced him to resign.[1]

Personal life

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Craven was married and had four children. He was a noted Freemason.

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Staff (October 23, 1906). "Macdonough Craven Succeeds Woodbury: New Street Cleaning Head Was One of Waring's Men" (PDF). The New York Times. New York City. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved June 9, 2015.

Bibliography

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