William Alexander Graham Sr.
Born: September 5, 1804
Birthplace: Vesuvius Furnace near Lincolnton, North Carolina
Father: Major General Joseph Graham 1759 – 1836
(Buried: Machpelah Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, North Carolina)
Mother: Isabella Davidson 1764 – 1808
(Buried: Machpelah Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, North Carolina)
Wife: Susannah Sarah “Susan” Washington 1816 – 1890
(Buried:Hillsborough Old Town Cemetery, Hillsborough, North Carolina)
Children:
CS Surgeon Dr. Joseph Graham 1837 – 1907
(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina)
Major John Washington Graham 1838 – 1928
(Buried: Saint Matthews Episcopal, Hillsborough, North Carolina)
Major William Alexander Graham Jr. 1839 – 1923
(Buried: Machpelah Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, North Carolina)
Captain James Augustus Graham 1841 – 1909
(Buried: Saint Matthews Episcopal, Hillsborough, North Carolina)
Captain Robert Davidson Graham 1843 – 1905
(Buried:Hillsborough Old Town Cemetery, Hillsborough, North Carolina)
Dr. George Washington Graham 1847 – 1923
(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina)
Judge Augustus Washington Graham 1849 – 1936
(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Oxford, North Carolina)
Susan Washington Graham Clark 1851 – 1909
(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina)
Alfred Octavius Graham 1853 – 1854
(Buried:Hillsborough Old Town Cemetery, Hillsborough, North Carolina)
Eugene Berrien Graham 1858 – 1863
(Buried:Hillsborough Old Town Cemetery, Hillsborough, North Carolina)
Brother: US Congressman James Graham 1793 – 1851
(Buried: Machpelah Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, North Carolina)
Political Parties:
Before – 1860: Member of Whig Party
1860 – 1861: Member of Constitutional Union Party
1861 – 1865: Member of Democratic Party
1865 – 1868: Member of National Union Party
1868 – 1875: Member of Democratic Party
Education:
Attended Hillsborough, North Carolina Academy
He was an active member of the UNC Dialectic Society
1824: Graduated from University of North Carolina – (First Honors)
Occupation before War:
1825 – 1840: Attorney in Hillsborough, North Carolina
Owner of Three Plantations
1833 – 1840: Member of North Carolina State House of Commons
1840 – 1843: United States Senator from North Carolina
1840 – 1843: Supporter of Henry Clay’s Programs while in the senate.
1841 – 1843: Chairman Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee
1841 – 1843: Member of Senate Pensions Committee
1843 – 1845: Attorney and Plantation owner in Hillsborough.
1845 – 1849: Governor of North Carolina
Disapproved of the Mexican War
Supported national effort to raise a regiment for Mexican War.
As Governor of North Carolina, he supported internal improvements
Graham also supported railroad development as Governor.
1849: Declined diplomatic missions to Spain and Russia.
1850 – 1852: United States Secretary of Navy
As Secretary of Navy, he relied on the Advice of Matthew Fontaine Maury
As Secretary he led a constructive program of personnel reforms, exploration of Amazon basin and the Perry expedition to Japan.
1850: Supporter of the Compromise of 1850.
Graham Advocated moderation for the North and South.
1852: Unsuccessful Whig Party Vice – Presidential Candidate
1854 – 1866: North Carolina State Senator
1860: Promoter of the Constitutional Union Party and John Bell.
Civil War Career:
1861: He urged North Carolinians to rely on the constitution as a sufficient guarantor of their rights
1861: Led Union men in defeating a statewide referendum to call a convention to consider secession in North Carolina.
1861: After the firing on Fort Sumter and Lincoln’s call for troops he accepted the inevitable saying “blood was thicker than water”
1861: Orange County Representative to Constitutional Convention
1861: Only when there was no alternative did, he cast his vote for secession.
1862: Declined to run for the office of Governor of North Carolina
Advisor to Governor of North Carolina Zebulon Vance
1864 – 1865: Confederate States Senator from North Carolina
1864 – 1865: Member of Senate Naval Affairs Committee
1864: Member of Congressional Joint Committee on Impressments
Refused to support experiments in reorganization that might demoralize the army.
Opposed virtually all of President Davis’s legislative programs.
He believed habeas corpus suspensions were unconstitutional.
He believed drafting slaves would destroy the meaning of Confederacy.
He believed curtailing military exemptions would ruin the home front.
He believed controlling states vessels in foreign commerce reduced imports by half.
He believed frequency of presidential vetoes revealed a would–be despot.
Most of his own bills sought to ease the tax and funding burdens on civilians.
Leader of the Peace movement in the Confederate States Senate.
1865: Supporter of advising separate state negotiations for the best reconstruction terms available.
Occupation after War:
1865: Revealed the plight of southerners list who worked to preserve the Union until they saw no honorable alternative.
1866: Elected to U.S. Senate but not allowed to take his seat.
Leader of the redemption movement in North Carolina
Prosecutor in the impeachment trial of Governor William W. Holden.
1875: Elected to North Carolina Constitution Convention died before meeting.
Died: August 11, 1875
Place of Death: Saratoga Springs, New York
Cause of Death: Organic Disease of the heart
Age at time of Death: 70 years old
Burial Place: Hillsborough Old Town Cemetery, Hillsborough, North Carolina
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