William Graham (colonel)
Encyclopedia
Colonel William Graham was militia
and political leader from North Carolina
during the American Revolution
.
Graham was born in Augusta County, Virginia
, the son of Archibald Graham of Scotland. The younger Graham moved to the Province of North Carolina
several years before the American Revolutionary War
. There he was one of forty signers of the Tryon Resolves
. In 1776, he served as a delegate from Lincoln County
to the North Carolina Provincial Congress
. As a colonel of militia, he served under General Griffith Rutherford
in the successful expedition against the Cherokee
s in 1776.
In 1780, he again led troops under General Rutherford in the Battle of Ramseur's Mill. That same year Graham marched with his troops in the expedition that led to the famous Battle of Kings Mountain
, but due to an illness in his family, he was not with his men when the battle was fought.
Graham is buried in Cleveland County, North Carolina
.
Militia (United States)
The role of militia, also known as military service and duty, in the United States is complex and has transformed over time.Spitzer, Robert J.: The Politics of Gun Control, Page 36. Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995. " The term militia can be used to describe any number of groups within the...
and political leader 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...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Graham was born in Augusta County, Virginia
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, the son of Archibald Graham of Scotland. The younger Graham moved to the Province of North Carolina
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
several years before the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. There he was one of forty signers of the Tryon Resolves
Tryon Resolves
The Tryon Resolves were a brief declaration adopted by the citizens of Tryon County in the Province of North Carolina in the early days of the American Revolution. In the Resolves, the county vowed resistance to coercive actions by the British Empire against its North American colonies...
. In 1776, he served as a delegate from Lincoln County
Lincoln County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
to the North Carolina Provincial Congress
North Carolina Provincial Congress
The North Carolina Provincial Congresses were extra-legal unicameral legislative bodies formed in 1774 through 1776 by the people of the Province of North Carolina, independent of the British colonial government.-First Provincial Congress:...
. As a colonel of militia, he served under General Griffith Rutherford
Griffith Rutherford
Griffith Rutherford was an officer in the American Revolutionary War, a political leader in North Carolina, and an important figure in the early history of the Southwest Territory and the state of Tennessee....
in the successful expedition against the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
s in 1776.
In 1780, he again led troops under General Rutherford in the Battle of Ramseur's Mill. That same year Graham marched with his troops in the expedition that led to the famous Battle of Kings Mountain
Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
, but due to an illness in his family, he was not with his men when the battle was fought.
Graham is buried in Cleveland County, North Carolina
Cleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...
.