George Croft was born at Sheffield, probably in 1808 and apparently the son of John (a cutler) and Elizabeth Crofts (as the name was sometimes spelled). George was listed in directories by the 1840s as a spring knife cutler in the cluster of streets around Earl Street and Eyre Street. By 1871, his works address was 56 Cambridge Street, where he employed eight men and two boys. He lived at Carter Knowle. However, he was bankrupt two years later, with debts of £664 and assets of £100 (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 30 September 1873). He died at Langdon Street, Sharrow, on 1 January 1879, aged 71, leaving under £450. His burial was at Ecclesall.