George Graham (soldier)

Captain George Graham (May 16, 1770 – August 9, 1830) served as acting United States Secretary of War under two Presidential administrations from 1816 to 1817.

George Graham
Commissioner of the General Land Office
In office June 26, 1823 – September 30, 1830
President	James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson
Preceded by	John McLean
Succeeded by	Elijah Hayward
United States Secretary of War Acting
In office October 22, 1816 – December 8, 1817
President	James Madison James Monroe
Preceded by	William H. Crawford
Succeeded by	John C. Calhoun
Personal details
Born	May 16, 1770 Dumfries, Virginia, British America
Died	August 9, 1830 (aged 59–60) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Education	Columbia University (BA)

Early life

George Graham was born to Richard and Jane (Brent) Graham in Prince William County, Virginia. He matriculated at Columbia College and earned his degree in 1790.[1]

Career

As incumbent Chief Clerk of the War Department, on October 22, 1816, he was designated Acting Secretary by James Madison following William H. Crawford's promotion to the Department of the Treasury until Crawford's successor John C. Calhoun arrived and took over as Secretary on October 8, 1817.[2] Outside of his Cabinet service, he is best known for a mission to Galveston Island, Texas to persuade the small Bonapartist colony of Champ d'Asile to accept American jurisdiction. There he met with privateer Jean Laffite. This voyage is considered the first Anglo-American account of a sea voyage to Texas.[1] Graham fell ill with acute dysentery on his return trip from Champ d'Asile, but was healed by Atakapa natives.[3] He was president of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States, 1819–1823, and commissioner of the U.S. land office, 1823–1830.

Death

Graham died in Washington, D.C. on August 26, 1830. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[4]

References

1. George Graham from the Handbook of Texas Online
2. "Appendix A, Secretaries of War Ad Interim and Acting Secretaries of the Army". Retrieved November 10, 2016.
3. Wiggins, Melanie; Linsley, Judith Walker (1991). They Made Their Own Law: Stories of Bolivar Peninsula. Rice University Press. pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-89263-307-7.
4. Burial Detail: Graham, George – ANC Explorer

Further reading

• "The Late George Graham". National Intelligencer. August 26, 1830.