George Addison Crawford was an American politician, lawyer and journalist. He was born in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 1827 and educated at Clinton Academy, where his father was president, and the Lock Haven Academy. Crawford graduated from Jefferson College (now Washington and Jefferson College) in 1847. After graduation, he taught school in Kentucky and was partner in a private school at Clinton, Mississippi.

In 1848, Crawford returned to Pennsylvania to study law. In 1850, he became editor and proprietor of the Clinton Democrat. In the early 1850s, Crawford became active in politics against the Know-Nothings political party, known particularly for their nativist and anti-immigrant stance. He served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania democratic state convention in 1855.

In the spring of 1857, Crawford came to Kansas. Accompanied by Dr. Norman Eddy, United States Commissioner for the Sale of Indian Lands, and a group of men, he went to Lawrence, Kansas. They purchased 520 acres of land and organized the Fort Scott Town company. Crawford served as this company's president for 20 years. During the period of Bleeding Kansas, Crawford opposed the violence and agitation created by both border factions. However, he maintained his free-state views. These views resulted in several assassination attempts against his life.

During the Civil War, Crawford assisted in organizing the 2nd Kansas regiment and equipped many of its members. When the border was threatened, he organized a committee of safety and was active in recruiting several militia companies. In 1861, Crawford was elected governor of Kansas on the Democratic ticket. However, this election was declared illegal. He was again nominated for governor by the Democratic party in 1864, but lost to the Republican candidate, Samuel J. Crawford. Under Governor S. Crawford, George Crawford served for two years as commissioner of immigration. He inaugurated a program of exhibiting Kansas products in other states. Crawford was also an organizer of the Kansas Historical Society and served as its secretary for two years.

In 1868, Crawford lost another bid for governor. In Fort Scott, he established the Daily Monitor newspaper, a free reading room, and museum. In 1871, Crawford was appointed a regent of the state university and elected to the state agricultural society's executive committee. Later that year, he was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as commissioner to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia.

When the Ute reservation was opened to settlement, Crawford purchased land for the future site of Grand Junction, Colorado. George Addison Crawford died in Grand Junction, on January 26, 1891.