History of Dumfries, (Prince William County) Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

George Graham, cabinet officer, was born in Dmufries, Va., in 1772. He was graduated at Columbia in 1790; practised law in Prince William county, Va., removed to Fairfax county and on the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812 he recruited the "Fairfax light-horse" and commanded the troop during the war. When General Armstrong retired from the war department in 1813, Graham took charge of the office as chief clerk and continued in that office under Secretaries James Monroe, 1814, William H. Crawford, 1815-16, and Isaac Shelby, 1817, and when the latter declined the nomination Mr. Graham was secretary of war ad interim until the office was assumed by John C. Calhoun, the same year. He continued as chief clerk under Mr. Calhoun and in 1818 at the request of the secretary, visited the threatened French armed settlement at Orcoguises Bluffs, Texas, and finding the colonists on Galveston island on route for the bluffs, he induced them to abandon their plans. He was president of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States, 1819-23, and commissioner of the U.S. land office, 1823-30. He died in Washington, D.C., in August, 1830.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Graham, diplomatist, was born in Dumfries, Va, in 1774. He was graduated at Columbia in 1790, settled in Lewis county, Ky., where he was a representative in the state legislature and was appointed by President Jefferson secretary of the Territory of Orleans. He then served as secretary of the American legation at Madrid and as chief clerk in the state department under Secretary of State James Madison, 1801-09. In 1818 he was appointed by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, on the commission to Buenos Aires to obtain political information, and he wrote an elaborate report which was printed by the state department. In 1817 he was appointed by President Monroe minister to the court of Portugal, then resident in Rio de Janeiro, S.A. He died in Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 1820.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Douglas Ramsay, soldier, was born in Dumfries, Va., Feb. 21, 1802; son of Andrew and Catherine (Graham) Ramsay; grandson of Patrick and Elizabeth (Poythress) Ramsay and of Richard and James (Brent) Graham. Patrick Ramsay emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland, to Virginia, and settled in Bristol Parish. He returned to Scotland prior to the Revolution, and after his death, in 1791, his widow brought her sons to Alexandria, Va., where they followed mercantile pursuits. George Douglas Ramsay was graduated from the U.S. Military academy, and promoted 2d lieutenant, light artillery, July 1, 1820; was transferred to the 1st artillery on re-organization of the army, June 1, 1821; and promoted 1st lieutenant, March l, 1826. He served as adjutant of the 1st artillery, 1833?35; as assistant ordnance officer at Washington arsenal, D.C., in 1835, and was promoted captain and transferred to the ordnance department, Feb. 25, 1835, serving as commandant of the New York, Washington, Frankford and Augusta arsenals. He was married, Sept. 23, 1830, to Frances Whetcroft, daughter of Thomas and Frances (Whetcroft) Munroe of Washington, D.C.; his wife died, April 22, 1835. He was married, secondly, June 28, 1838, to Eliza Rae, daughter of Thomas Gales of Louisiana. He was ordnance officer at Corpus Christi and Point Isabel in the military occupation of Texas, 1845?46, and in the battle of Monterey, Sept. 21?23, 1846, where he was brevetted major, for gallant conduct. He was chief of ordnance of General Taylor's army, 1847?48; commandant of the Frankford, Fort Munroe, St. Louis and Washington arsenals, 1848?61; and was promoted major, April 22, 1861; lieutenant-colonel, Aug. 3, 1861, and colonel, June 1, 1863. He commanded the arsenal at Washington, D.C., 1861?63; served as chief of ordnance of the U.S. army with headquarters at Washington, 1863?64; was promoted brigadier-general, and made chief of ordnance of the U.S. army, Sept. 15, 1863, and retired by age limit, Sept. 12, 1864. He was inspector of arsenals, 1864?66; commanded the Washington arsenal, 1866?70; was brevetted major-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865, for long and faithful services, and was a member of the examining board. He died in Washington, D.C., May 23, 1882.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor