Colonel John Graham of Fintry and the Fourth Cape Eastern Frontier War, 1811-1812

Abstract

Not much is nowadays remembered of Colonel John Graham in South Africa. His name is perpetuated in the city of Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, and the name of a primary school at Plumstead, Cape Peninsula. Buried in the old Wynberg cemetery, Somerset Road, his grave is today unidentified and lost forever.

Johan Graham was the second son of Robert Graham of the Fintry Estate in Forfarshire, Scotland. He was born at Dundee on 24 April 1778 and inter alia taught by the learned Professor John Playfair and Josiah Walker, tutor at Athol House. At the age of 16 years Graham was gazetted Ensign in the 85th Regiment of Foot, but he never joined this regiment, because in the same year (1794), having assisted his cousin, Thomas Graham of Balgowan (afterwards Lord Lynedoch), to recruit candidates for the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers), he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in that regiment.