Joseph Graham was an American Revolutionary soldier. During the years 1814-15, he was a member of the Council of State.
Background
Joseph Graham was born on October 13, 1759, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His father, James Graham, of Scotch-Irish descent, emigrated from County Down, Ireland, in 1733 and settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. His mother, Mary (McConnell) Barber Graham, James Graham’s second wife, sometime after the death of her husband in 1763, removed to the vicinity of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and then settled in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, about 1768.
Education
Joseph Graham was educated at Queen’s Museum, Charlotte.
Career
In 1778, Graham enlisted in the 4th Regiment of the North Carolina Continental Line and served for a year as quartermaster-sergeant. Relieved of service he volunteered again in 1780 and was appointed adjutant of a militia regiment.
Later, he became captain of a company of mounted infantry. During this period, he saw active service in North Carolina and in South Carolina.
He was in command of the reserve during the spirited defense of Charlotte in September 1780, which delayed the advance of Cornwallis, and won from the British the title for the town of “Hornet’s Nest. ”
He received nine severe wounds from which it took him two months to recover, but he resumed his service and remained until March 1781. In August of that year, he organized a company of dragoons and soon afterward became major.
He served near Wilmington until November 1781, when his service finally ended.
After the close of the war, Graham engaged in tobacco planting and at intervals held public office. He was commissioned to collect and sell government property and was for a time sheriff of his county. In 1788, he was a delegate to the convention called to consider the Constitution of the United States and voted against ratification.
He was also a delegate to the Convention of 1789, in which he voted for ratification. In neither did he participate in the debates.
From 1788 to 1794, while he was still a young man, he sat in the state Senate, where he displayed a particular interest in internal improvements and public education.
Later, during the years 1814-15, he was a member of the Council of State. In 1813 and again in 1823, he ran for Congress but was both times defeated.
In 1795, he acquired an interest in an iron mine, furnace, and forge at Vesuvius Furnace in Lincoln County, and moved there with his family. The business was highly profitable and he acquired a considerable fortune.
From the close of the Revolution until his death, he took an active interest in military matters, and in 1802, he outlined an elaborate plan for a state military school, with a four years’ course of study, and submitted it to the legislature.
When in January 1814, President Madison called on the governors of North Carolina and South Carolina for two regiments to reinforce Jackson in the Creek War, Gov. Hawkins nominated Graham to command the brigade. He was appointed, but owing to the failure of the war department to furnish supplies, the departure of the brigade was delayed and when it reached Jackson the battle of Horseshoe Bend was over.
Beginning in 1820, Graham wrote for Archibald D. Murphey, who was collecting material for a history of North Carolina, a series of letters and articles which constitute a valuable record of Revolutionary warfare in western North Carolina and in South Carolina.
Achievements
Personality
Graham demonstrated capacity as a soldier and impressed those who knew him with his youthful determination and devotion to duty.
Connections
In 1787, Graham was married to Isabella Davidson, the daughter of John Davidson of Mecklenburg County.