Alma mater Columbia University Name George Graham | Role Soldier Education Columbia University | |
Born 1772 Dumfries, Virginia Died August 9, 1830, Washington, D.C., United States Resting place Arlington National Cemetery | ||
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. 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.