FROM  420 A.D.  TO  2021 A.D.

 

Origins of the Clan

The Graham ancient family history was found in the Irish Surnames archives.  The Graham family legend extends to the year 420 when a famous Caledonian warrior ‘Greme’ breached the Roman Antonine Walldriving the Roman legions out of Scotland and won it the name of ‘Grahams Dyke’. The Manor of Gregham is recorded in William the Conqueror‘s Domesday Book. An early bearer of the name was Sir William de Graham who was of Anglo-Norman origin in the twelfth century. When David I claimed the throne of Scotland, Graham was one of the knights who accompanied him. Sir William de Graham was present at the erection of Holyrood Abbey, witnessing its foundation charter. From him descended the Grahams of Montrose, one of the most distinguished of all Scottish families. 

In Ireland this name is often of immigrant origin having been brought into Ulster by settlers but the name is often used as an anglicized form of the native Gaelic O’ Greachain and O’Gormghaile sept names, that were more usually changed to Grehan and Gormley. The Graham family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coat of arms began as early as the twelfth century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest. Coat of arms, including Graham descendants.

The first lands that the chiefs of Clan Graham appear to have held were around Dalkeith in Midlothian.  Sir Nicholas de Graham attended the Parliament of 1290 where the Treaty of Birgham was signed.

 

Wars of Scottish Independence

The Clan Graham fought at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 where Sir Patrick de Graham of Kincardine was the only man of all the Scots not to retreat and instead fought to the death.

Sir John de Graham, was a friend and follower of William Wallace. Sir John de Graham is regarded as hero for rescuing Wallace at Queensbury. Sir John de Graham was regarded as Wallace’s right-hand man and Wallace was at his side when Graham was killed in 1298 at the Battle of Falkirk. John de Graham’s name is still perpetuated in the district of Grahamston. The grave of Sir John de Graham in Falkirk churchyard is still to be seen, with table stones of three successive periods above it.  One great two-handed sword of Sir John the Graham is preserved at Buchanan Castle by the Duke of Montrose, Another was long in possession of the Grahams of Orchil and is now treasured by the Freemason Lodge at Auchterarder.

The Clan Graham also fought against the English at the Battle of Durham in 1346, in support of King David II of Scots. The Grahams acquired the lands of Mugdock north of Glasgow, where they built a stout castle around 1370.  In John Stewart‘s book, The Grahams, he states that, 

      “Most Scottish Clans would be proud to have one great hero. The Grahams have three.” 

He refers to Sir John de Graham, the Marquis of Montrose and the Viscount of Dundee. Stewart also wrote,

    “It is remarkable that the early Grahams were one and all exceedingly capable men. In an age when the reputation of many great public figures, alas, that of most of the Scottish nobility, were sullied by deeds of violence, and often deeds of blackest treachery, it is refreshing to find that the Grahams stand out as loyal and true to the causes they espoused. Their story is not one of rapid rise to power through royal favor, or even at the expense of their peers, but rather a gradual steady rise based on their undoubted ability and worthiness which seems to have endured from one generation to another.”

 

15th and 16th centuries

Mugdock Castle was the clan’s stronghold

The Clan Graham fought at the Battle of Sauchieburn led by the third Lord Graham. The battle was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a brook about two miles south of Stirling, Scotland. In 1504 Lord Graham, on account of his gallantry was made Earl of Montrose. He would go on to lead part of the Scottish Vanguard against the English at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars where he was slain. The Clan Graham was among the clans which fought against the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh 1547, where Robert, the eldest son of the second Earl, was killed.

 

17th century and Civil War

James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, One of the most notable chiefs of the Clan Graham was James, Marquis of Montrose, a poet, but above all, the most distinguished royalist soldier of his time. He played a massive part in the Civil War in Scotland and the Grahams rallied to their chief. Montrose had had successive victories at the Battle of Tippermuir – with the support of Alaster M’Coll Keitach (known as Alasdair MacColla McDonald) and his Irish soldiers, the Battle of Aberdeen, the Battle of Inverlochy (1645), the Battle of Auldearn, the Battle of Alford, and the Battle of Kilsyth.  After several years of continuous victories, Montrose was finally defeated at the Battle of Philiphaugh on 13 September 1645 by the Covenanter army of David Leslie, Lord Newark,  restoring the power of the Committee of Estates.

In 1646 Montrose laid siege to the Castle Chanonry of Ross which was held by the Clan Mackenzie and took it from them after a siege of four days. In March 1650 he captured Dunbeath Castle of the Clan Sinclair, who would later support him at Carbisdale. Montrose was defeated at the Battle of Carbisdale by the Munros, Rosses, Sutherlands and Colonel Alexander Strachan. He was subsequently captured and executed in Edinburgh in 1650.

John Graham, Viscount of Dundee

Another notable Graham was John, Viscount of Dundee also known as “Bonnie Dundee”. By means of purchase and inheritance the Graham lands had become, by the late seventeenth century, among the richest in Scotland.

The Viscount of Dundee led a small Government Troop of Cavalry which was surprised and defeated at the Battle of Drumclog in 1679 by an overwhelming force of rebel Covenanters (estimates suggest Graham was outnumbered by about 4–1). However he was victorious at the Battle of Bothwell Brig where he put down a rebellion by the Covenanters. The battle was fought on 22 June 1679 in Lanarkshire.

Dundee was appointed Commander in Chief of all Scottish Forces by King James VII but died at the Battle of Killiecrankie whilst commanding the Jacobite Forces during their victory over a much larger Williamite Army in 1689.

 

18th century and Jacobite uprisings

The Clan Graham took no side in the Jacobite Uprisings and remained neutral throughout. Highlanders can thank James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose for the repeal in 1782 of the Dress Act 1746 prohibiting the wearing of highland dress. He persuaded Parliament to remove the law forbidding Scots to wear their tartan.