Jump to content

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Graham, Robert (1744-1836)

From Wikisource
For works with similar titles, see Robert Graham.
736068Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 22 — Graham, Robert (1744-1836)1890John Andrew Hamilton

GRAHAM, Sir ROBERT (1744–1836), judge, born at Hackney on 14 Oct. 1744, was son and heir of James Graham, a schoolmaster of Dalston in Middlesex, a descendant of George Graham of Calendar, second son of William, lord Graham. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was third wrangler, besides being high in classics, was elected a fellow and graduated B.A. in 1766, M.A. in 1769, and was made an LL.D. in 1835. In 1766 he entered at the Inner Temple, where he was called to the bar. In February 1793 he was appointed attorney-general to the Prince of Wales, and was made a king's counsel in the following April. In November 1799 he was appointed a baron of the exchequer, and knighted 19 June 1800. In February 1827 he retired, but in the following reign he was sworn of the privy council. On 28 Sept. 1836 he died at his sister's house at Long Ditton in Surrey, and was buried on 7 Oct. at Kingston. He was an urbane but inefficient judge; on his appointment Sir Edward Law (afterwards Lord Ellenborough) said of him 'that he placed Mr. Justice Rooke on a pinnacle.'

[Foss's Lives of the Judges; Gent. Mag. 1836; Bruce's Handbook to Newcastle.]