GRAHAM, SIR JAMES ROBERT GEORGE, BART., eldest son of Sir James Graham, Bart. MP, Netherby, Cumberland, and Lady Catherine Stewart, sister of George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway (S) (qv); grandson of Robert Graham (qv); b. 1 Jun 1792; adm.; left 1809; Christ Church, Oxford, matr. 8 Jun 1810; continental tour 1812-5; MP Hull 1818-20, St. Ives 1820 – Mar 1821, Carlisle 1826- Jan 1829, Cumberland 16 Jan 1829-32, East Cumberland 1832-7, Pembroke District 30 Feb 1838-41, Dorchester 1841-7, Ripon 1847-52, Carlisle from 1852; succ. father as 2nd baronet 13 Apr 1824; First Lord of the Admiralty 25 Nov 1830 – Jun 1834, when he resigned owing to his opposition to the Whig government’s policy on the Irish Church; Privy Councillor 22 Nov 1830; Home Secretary 6 Sep 1841 – Jul 1846; First Lord of the Admiralty 30 Dec 1852 – Mar 1855; FRS 22 Dec 1831; LLD Cambridge 1835; Rector, Glasgow University 1838-40; GCB 15 Apr 1854; DL JP Cumberland; as a politician sat as a Whig in House of Commons to 1834; one of the committee of four which prepared the first Reform Bill 1830; after a short period of independence, crossed the floor of the house to join Conservatives Jun 1835; followed Sir Robert Peel in 1846 and his subsequent political career was initially as a Peelite, then as a Liberal; a highly unpopular Home Secretary, and his tampering with the letters of foreign refugees in 1844 caused general indignation; author, Corn and Currency 1826; m. 8 Jul 1819 Fanny, youngest dau. of Col. James Callander (afterwards Campbell), Craigforth, Stirlingshire; d. 25 Oct 1861. DNB.