Capt George Graham, acting US Secretary of War

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgr03

GRAHAM, GEORGE (1772–1830). George Graham, lawyer, soldier, banker, and public servant, son of Richard and Jane (Brent) Graham, was born in Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, about 1772. He graduated from Columbia College (now Columbia University) in 1790 and practiced law in his native town. He represented his county in the Virginia General Assembly and raised and commanded the Fairfax Light Horse during the War of 1812. James Monroe appointed Graham chief clerk of the War Department in 1814, and he served as secretary of war ad interim from October 16, 1816, to December 9, 1817. He became known as a troubleshooter in the War Department. In 1815 he was appointed a member of a commission to treat with the British regarding the settlement of the War of 1812. Later he became a specialist in Indian problems.

In 1818 he was commissioned a special agent and sent on a confidential mission to Texas to determine the status of the Napoleonic exiles who had attempted to establish the colony of Champ d'Asile on the Trinity River. Graham arrived at Galveston in a smuggling boat in the late summer of that year. The French colony had already disintegrated when he arrived, but he took occasion to consult with Jean Laffite and to inspect the Texas coast on behalf of the United States. The United States claimed Texas at that time on the basis of the Louisiana Purchase, but little was known about it. Graham was impressed by what he saw and recommended that his government occupy Texas immediately. The following year, however, the United States and Spain signed the Adams-Onís Treaty, which settled the international boundary at the Sabine River. Graham's account of his mission stands as the first Anglo-American account of a sea voyage to Texas (from Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana, to Galveston Island, after an overland trip by horseback) and gives an interesting view of Laffite and Galveston Island in 1818.

Graham was first married to a widow, Elizabeth Mary Anne Barnes (Hooe) Mason; they had two [four, but two died young] children. His second marriage was to a Miss Watson, and they also had two children. Graham was president of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States from 1817 to 1823. From 1823 until his death in August 1830 he served as commissioner of the general land office of the United States.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Graham_(soldier)

Captain George Graham (1772 – August 9, 1830) served as acting U.S. Secretary of War under two U.S. Presidential administrations from 1816 to 1817. 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. Graham fell ill with acute dysentery on his return trip from Champ d'Asile, but was healed by Atakapa natives. 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.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

Age: 59-60

GEDCOM Source

MH:S500221 Brent Web Site Charles Driscoll Brent <p>MyHeritage family tree</p><p>Family site: Brent Web Site</p>Family tree: 424127551-1

GEDCOM Source

George W Graham 20 NOV 2017 Added via a Smart Match

GEDCOM Source

MH:S500323 Biographical Summaries of Notable People MyHeritage The records in this collection vary in what data items are present and one will find information on various aspects of the subject persons including names, biographical descriptions, nationalities, birth dates, birth places, death dates, death places, relatives, spouses, children, professions, and educational attainment. The information in this collection has been compiled from Freebase (under CC-BY) and Wikipedia (under the GNU Free Documentation License).

GEDCOM Source

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-7626/george-graham... 21 FEB 2018 George GrahamGender: MaleBirth: 1772 - United States of AmericaDeath: Aug 9 1830Education: Columbia University&nbsp;&nbsp;Relatives: <br>Relation Name Birth<br> <a></a>