William Alexander Graham
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Graham (September 5, 1804 August 11, 1875) was a United States Senator
from North Carolina
from 1840 to 1843, the 30th Governor of North Carolina
from 1845 to 1849 and United States Secretary of the Navy
from 1850 to 1852. He was also a candidate for the vice-presidency
in 1852.
. His Scotch-Irish grandfather James Graham http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp (1714-1763) was born in Drumbo
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
and settled in Chester County
in the Province of Pennsylvania
. William A. Graham graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he was a member of the Dialectic Society. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Hillsborough
.
from Orange County
, serving twice as speaker
.
In 1840 Graham was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Strange
, and served from November 25, 1840, to March 4, 1843. In the Twenty-seventh Congress he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Claims. His older brother, James Graham
, had been representing North Carolina in the House
since 1833.
From 1845 to 1849 Graham was Governor of North Carolina. Having declined appointments as ambassador to Spain and Russia in 1849, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy
in the cabinet of President Millard Fillmore
in 1850, and served until 1852. In the 1852 presidential election he was the unsuccessful Whig nominee for vice president
, as Winfield Scott
's running mate. Returning to North Carolina, he was a member of the state senate
from 1854 to 1866, and senator in the Confederate
Congress from 1864 to 1865.
, which provided educational assistance to the post-Civil War
South. From 1873 to 1875 he was an arbitrator in the boundary line dispute between Virginia
and Maryland
. He died in Saratoga Springs, New York
, and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Hillsborough.
The United States Navy ship, USS Graham (DD-192)
, the World War II Liberty ship
SS William A. Graham
, and the city of Graham, North Carolina
were all named for him.
Montrose Gardens, located in Hillsborough, North Carolina
, is one of Graham's former estates and still features some of the structures Graham and his family had built on the property.
One of Graham's sons, also named William A. Graham
, became a state legislator and state agriculture commissioner. Two others, Augustus and John, also became politicians, while a daughter, Susan, married Walter Clark
.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1840 to 1843, the 30th Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
from 1845 to 1849 and United States Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
from 1850 to 1852. He was also a candidate for the vice-presidency
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
in 1852.
Education
Graham was born near Lincolnton, North CarolinaLincolnton, North Carolina
Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...
. His Scotch-Irish grandfather James Graham http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp (1714-1763) was born in Drumbo
Drumbo
Drumbo is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies about south of Belfast city centre, east of Lisburn and west of Carryduff. The 2001 Census recorded the village's population as being 408....
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and settled in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
in the Province of Pennsylvania
Province of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
. William A. Graham graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he was a member of the Dialectic Society. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Hillsborough
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
.
Political career
From 1833 to 1840 Graham was a member of the North Carolina House of CommonsNorth Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
from Orange County
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
, serving twice as speaker
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
.
In 1840 Graham was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Strange
Robert Strange
Robert Strange was a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1836 and 1840.Strange was born in Manchester, Virginia. He attended New Oxford Academy and Washington College in Lexington, Virginia...
, and served from November 25, 1840, to March 4, 1843. In the Twenty-seventh Congress he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Claims. His older brother, James Graham
James Graham (NC politician)
James Graham a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, January 7, 1793; brother of William Alexander Graham; pursued classical studies and was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1814; studied law; was admitted to the...
, had been representing North Carolina in the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
since 1833.
From 1845 to 1849 Graham was Governor of North Carolina. Having declined appointments as ambassador to Spain and Russia in 1849, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
in the cabinet of President Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
in 1850, and served until 1852. In the 1852 presidential election he was the unsuccessful Whig nominee for vice president
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, as Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
's running mate. Returning to North Carolina, he was a member of the state senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
from 1854 to 1866, and senator in the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Congress from 1864 to 1865.
Later life and legacy
In 1866 Graham was once again elected to the United States Senate, but because North Carolina had not yet been readmitted to the Union, he did not present his credentials. From 1867 to 1875 he was a member of the board of trustees of the Peabody FundPeabody Education Fund
Founded of necessity due to damage caused largely by the American Civil War, the Peabody Education Fund was established by George Peabody in 1867 for the purpose of promoting "intellectual, moral, and industrial education in the most destitute portion of the Southern States." The gift of...
, which provided educational assistance to the post-Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
South. From 1873 to 1875 he was an arbitrator in the boundary line dispute between Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He died in Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
, and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Hillsborough.
The United States Navy ship, USS Graham (DD-192)
USS Graham (DD-192)
USS Graham was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Secretary of the Navy William A. Graham .-History:...
, the World War II Liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
SS William A. Graham
SS William A. Graham
The SS William A. Graham was a World War II Liberty ship built in Wilmington, North Carolina. One of 2,700 cargo ships produced during an emergency shipbuilding program, the Graham was named for William Alexander Graham, a 19th century governor of North Carolina and a U.S...
, and the city of Graham, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina
Graham is a city in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 14,533...
were all named for him.
Montrose Gardens, located in Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
, is one of Graham's former estates and still features some of the structures Graham and his family had built on the property.
One of Graham's sons, also named William A. Graham
William A. Graham (agriculture commissioner)
William Alexander Graham was a North Carolina legislator and state Commissioner of Agriculture.Born in Hillsborough, North Carolina to William Alexander Graham and Susannah Sarah Washington, Graham was educated at private schools, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Princeton...
, became a state legislator and state agriculture commissioner. Two others, Augustus and John, also became politicians, while a daughter, Susan, married Walter Clark
Walter Clark (jurist)
Walter McKenzie Clark was a North Carolina politician and jurist who served as an associate justice and chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.-Biography:...
.