Robert Craik was born in Montréal and graduated from McGill University as M.D., C.M. in 1854. Appointed house surgeon of the Montreal General Hospital, he distinguished himself by his heroic service during the cholera epidemic and by his subsequent reorganization of hospital services. From 1856 until 1861, Craik was demonstrator in anatomy in the Medical Faculty, and in 1859 he became curator of the Medical Museum. In 1861 he was appointed Professor of clinical surgery, and in 1867, Professor of chemistry. Craik gave up teaching in 1879, but remained treasurer of the faculty. He became Dean in 1889, and held this post for eleven years.