George Graham (soldier)

George Graham
Born 1772
Dumfries, Virginia
Died August 9, 1830
Washington, D.C.
Resting place Arlington National Cemetery
Alma mater Columbia University

Captain George Graham (1772 – August 9, 1830) served as acting United States Secretary of War under two Presidential administrations from 1816 to 1817.

As incumbent Chief Clerk of the War Department, on 22 October 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 8 October 1817.[1] 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.[2] 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]

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

References

  1. ↑ "APPENDIX A, SECRETARIES OF WAR AD INTERIM AND ACTING SECRETARIES OF THE ARMY". Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  2. ↑ "Graham, George". The Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  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 2007-03-09.
Political offices
Preceded by
John McLean		 Commissioner of the General Land Office
1823–1830 		Succeeded by
Elijah Hayward



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