George Graham (soldier)

Captain George Graham (1772 – 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
PresidentJames Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
Preceded byJohn McLean
Succeeded byElijah Hayward
United States Secretary of War
Acting
In office
October 22, 1816 – December 8, 1817
PresidentJames Madison
James Monroe
Preceded byWilliam H. Crawford
Succeeded byJohn C. Calhoun
Personal details
Born1772
Dumfries, Virginia, British America
DiedAugust 9, 1830 (aged 57–58)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
EducationColumbia University (BA)

Early life

George Graham was born to Richard and Jane (Brent) Graham in Prince William County, Virginia, probably in 1772. 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.[4]

Death

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

References
  1. Sibley, Marilyn MacAdams (June 10, 2010). "Graham, George". The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  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. "George Graham, Captain, United States Army & Public Servant". ArlingtonCemetery.net. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
John McLean		 Commissioner of the General Land Office
1823–1830		 Succeeded by
Elijah Hayward


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