George Graham (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Captain George Graham 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-America
n 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
.
Galveston Island
Galveston Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States, about 50 miles southeast of Houston. The entire island, with the exception of Jamaica Beach, is within the city limits of the City of Galveston....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to persuade the small Bonapartist
Bonapartist
In French political history, Bonapartism has two meanings. In a strict sense, this term refers to people who aimed to restore the French Empire under the House of Bonaparte, the Corsican family of Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew Louis...
colony of Champ d'Asile
Champ d'Asile
Champ d'Asile was a short-lived settlement started in Texas in 1818 by French veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. It was led by General Charles Lallemand. It was started in January 1818, by 20 Bonapartists from the Vine and Olive Colony. The land was offered to French settlers on March 3 1817, after...
to accept American jurisdiction. There he met with privateer Jean Laffite. This voyage is considered the first Anglo-America
Anglo-America
Anglo-America is a region in the Americas in which English is a main language, or one which has significant British historical, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural links...
n account of a sea voyage to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Graham fell ill with acute dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
on his return trip from Champ d'Asile, but was healed by Atakapa
Atakapa
The Atakapan people are a Southeastern culture of Native American tribes who spoke Atakapa and historically lived along the Gulf of Mexico. They called themselves the Ishak, pronounced "ee-SHAK", which translates as "The People". Although the people were decimated by infectious disease after...
natives. He was president of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
, 1819–1823, and commissioner of the U.S. land office, 1823 - 1830.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.