2nd Baronet, GCB PC. He was the son of Sir James Graham, 1st Baronet and Lady Catherine Stewart. He was a British statesman, who notably held office as Home Secretary from 1841 to 1846 in Sir Robert Peel's last government. Graham Land in Antarctica is named after him. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. In 1818 he was elected to parliament as a Whig member for Hull, but he lost his seat in 1820. In 1826 he published a pamphlet entitled Corn and Currency, which brought him into prominence as a man of advanced Liberal opinions; and he became one of the most energetic advocates in parliament of the Reform Bill. On the formation of Earl Grey's administration he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, with a seat in the cabinet 1830-34. He then took office under Sir Robert Peel as Home Secretary, a post he retained until 1846. As home secretary he incurred considerable odium in Scotland, by his unconciliating policy on the church question prior to the disruption of 1843; and in 1844 the detention and opening of letters at the post-office by his warrant raised a storm of public indignation, which was hardly allayed by the favourable report of a parliamentary committee of investigation. He remained a leading figure in the Peelite faction in the House of Commons, and played an instrumental role in bringing the Peelites into the Palmerston-Russell government of 1859.
2nd Baronet, GCB PC. He was the son of Sir James Graham, 1st Baronet and Lady Catherine Stewart. He was a British statesman, who notably held office as Home Secretary from 1841 to 1846 in Sir Robert Peel's last government. Graham Land in Antarctica is named after him. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. In 1818 he was elected to parliament as a Whig member for Hull, but he lost his seat in 1820. In 1826 he published a pamphlet entitled Corn and Currency, which brought him into prominence as a man of advanced Liberal opinions; and he became one of the most energetic advocates in parliament of the Reform Bill. On the formation of Earl Grey's administration he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, with a seat in the cabinet 1830-34. He then took office under Sir Robert Peel as Home Secretary, a post he retained until 1846. As home secretary he incurred considerable odium in Scotland, by his unconciliating policy on the church question prior to the disruption of 1843; and in 1844 the detention and opening of letters at the post-office by his warrant raised a storm of public indignation, which was hardly allayed by the favourable report of a parliamentary committee of investigation. He remained a leading figure in the Peelite faction in the House of Commons, and played an instrumental role in bringing the Peelites into the Palmerston-Russell government of 1859.
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