Crofton, Sir Edward (c.1662–1729), politician and landowner, was eldest son of Sir Edward Crofton, 1st baronet, of The Mote, Co. Roscommon, and his second wife, Susannah Clifford of Devon. His early life remains obscure; he succeeded as 2nd baronet on his father's death (1675). Attainted by the Jacobite parliament in 1689, having removed himself to London, he was swiftly restored to his estates after the accession of William of Orange (qv). In March 1694 he entered into an agreement with Sir Robert King of Rockingham, Co. Roscommon, to petition for forfeited lands (barring those of his stepfather, Garrett Dillon (qv)). In this manner he amassed lands across the country, particularly in Leitrim, Limerick, and Roscommon, where they strengthened the family interest. Elected MP for Boyle in 1695, in that year Crofton criticised Sir Charles Porter (qv), the lord chancellor, because of the latter's alleged favouritism to catholics. In 1696 he signed the association for the protection of William III, and in 1698 was commissioner for the subsidy act in Roscommon. In 1700 he was sheriff of Roscommon. Elected MP for Co. Roscommon in 1703, he successfully retained the seat till his death, serving on numerous committees.
Regarded as a whig in Queen Anne's reign, in 1711 Crofton erected a sundial in his garden dedicated to William III, but in 1713 supported the government, voting for Sir Richard Levinge (qv) as speaker in opposition to Alan Brodrick (qv) (later Viscount Midleton). He was appointed a privy councillor on 30 November 1714. In May 1716 he indignantly defended himself in parliament in a legal dispute over lands in Roscommon with William Westland. In 1721 he voted against the proposed national bank. He was appointed to the privy council again on 1 December 1727. At some point Crofton patronised the harpist Turlough Carolan (qv), who composed a drinking song about him; there was a family connection through Crofton's mother-in-law, Olivia St George. Crofton died in Lyons on 11 November 1729, having visited the south of France on health grounds. He was buried in Mote on 24 November.
He married (2 February 1685) Catherine (d. 1689), eldest daughter of Sir Oliver St George of Carrickdrumrusk, Co. Leitrim. They had two sons, Edward and Oliver. The elder, Edward, MP for Roscommon borough 1713–39, succeeded to the baronetcy.