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- Founder of Grahamstown.
"Colonel John Graham (1778-1821) is born (24 April 1778) in Dundee, Scotland, 2nd son of Robert Graham, last laird of demesne of Fintry & 12th representative of Grahams of Fintry in Forfarshire, Scotland - later in life, becomes 13th representative of Fintry Grahams following death of elder brother (1799) & father (1816).
Aged 16, commissioned in British Army, joining 90th Regiment of Foot, which had been raised (1794) by kinsman, Thomas Graham of Balgowan (later Lord Lynedoch). 2 expeditions to France (late 1790s) are followed by appointment as aide-de-camp to Earl of Chatham whom he serves in Netherlands.
After 3 years on Guernsey with regiment, sent to Ireland (1803) & becomes assistant quartermaster-general.
Major (January 1806) in 93rd Regiment of Foot taking part in Battle of Blaauwberg, helping Great Britain re-occupy Cape of Good Hope.
As Lieutenant-Colonel given command of the Cape Regiment [previously The Pandours (1793-1796), the Cape Corps (1796-1803) & Hottentot Light Infantry (1803-1806) - collaborative colonially incorporated Cape Khoe men conscripted for military purposes], based at Wynberg, which he trains as light infantry capable of delivering outstanding performance in wooded terrain.
Founding of Grahamstown
He & Cape Regiment sent (1811) with British regulars & Boer commandos from Swellendam, Graaff-Reinet & Uitenhage to undertake task which is to define military career: clearing around 20,000 AmaXhosa tribesmen led by Ndlambe ka Rharhabe.
AmaXhosa had settled in the Zuurveld (later called Albany), district between Bushman's & Fish rivers, which lies beyond Cape Colony's frontiers. Zuurveld is presumed by British to be part of the colony as they `misread` the frontier laid down by Governor Joachim van Plettenberg (1778).
British campaign to push the amaXhosa residents from the Eastern frontier is defined by his plan to use "A proper degree of terror."
Subsequent battle includes indiscriminate shooting of women & other civilians, as well as destruction of crops.
Establishes (1812) on deserted loan farm De Rietfontein Graham's Town as Zuurveld's central military post, with a string of linked forts along the Fish River.
Returns (1812) to England on leave of absence then accompanies cousin Thomas to Holland as his aide-de-camp & private military secretary.
Dies in Wynberg (13 March 1821).
Buried in Somerset Road Cemetery - principal graveyard in Cape Town (until 1886). Before levelling of Somerset Road Cemetery & development of site (c. 1922), a number of inscribed stones are lifted from their graves & deposited at Woltemade Cemetery, Maitland opened (1886) as Cape Town's new principal graveyard . Tombstone lies there today & window erected (c. 1931) to his memory in St Saviour's Church, Claremont.
Monument erected (1912) in High Street, Grahamstown on site of thorn tree where he decides to establish settlement.
Marries (24 July 1812) Johanna Catharina Cloete (1790-1843)
Of grandsons, 2 are knighted, one as Secretary of Law of Cape Colony, other Judge President of Eastern Districts Court in Grahamstown.
[Mansell Upham - posted on First Fifty Years - collating Cape of Good Hope Records]"
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1778 - 1821 (42 years)
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