John Graham (clergyman) facts for kids

John Graham (1774–1844) was an important clergyman in the Church of Ireland. He was also a leader in the Orange Order and wrote many poems and history books. He strongly disagreed with Catholic Emancipation, which was about giving more rights to Catholics in Ireland. For over twenty years, he was a key supporter of the Protestant cause in Ireland.

Early Life and Church Work

John Graham was born on April 21, 1774, in County Longford, Ireland. He was the oldest son of James and Anne Graham. He went to Trinity College, Dublin, a famous university. While there, he joined a group called the Orange Institution. In 1798, the year of the United Irishmen's uprising, he graduated.

After college, he became a priest in the Church of Ireland in 1799. He worked in different parishes, including Kilrush, Maghera, and Lifford. In 1824, he became the Rector of Tamlaghtard, also known as Magilligan. He stayed there until he passed away twenty years later.

While working in Lifford, he also inspected the local prison and ran a school. One of his students was James MacCullagh, who later became a famous scientist. People who met Graham said he was very knowledgeable and talented. They were surprised he hadn't been given his own parish sooner.

Graham believed that the Church of Ireland's faith was very similar to the Christian faith practiced in Ireland long ago, before Roman Catholicism arrived. He had seen celebrations of the Apprentice Boys closing the gates of Londonderry against the army of King James II. This event was a big part of the conflict that led to William of Orange's victory. Graham felt that this victory should lead to Protestantism being the main religion in Ireland and that the Orange achievements should be respected. These beliefs guided his life's work.

Early Writings and History Books

John Graham started his writing career by focusing on social, economic, and local topics. His first works were published in 1808. People noted that his contributions were of very high quality.

From 1813 onwards, he wrote detailed reports about different parishes for a large survey of Ireland. He also helped write a historical account of Londonderry and nearby counties. For this work, he was honored and given a gift of silver.

Starting in 1816, he wrote a series of articles called "Annals of Irish Popery." These articles explored Ireland's history from 1535 to 1691. They were published in a newspaper and then collected into a book. Graham wrote these to offer his view of Irish history.

During this time, he also wrote many poems and songs. These often appeared in newspapers and magazines. His writings increasingly expressed his opposition to "the Romish persuasion" (Catholicism) and Catholic Emancipation. Sometimes he wrote poems about these topics, and other times he wrote arguments, like his 1820 book Defence of the Orange Society in Ireland.

His work was praised by some, like Sir Harcourt Lees, who felt Graham was one of the few supporting his views. Graham even wrote a poem about Sir Harcourt's vision. However, other writers, like the poet Thomas Furlong, strongly disagreed with Graham's views. Furlong, who supported Catholic Emancipation, criticized Graham's poetry.

Derriana Publication

In 1823, John Graham published a book called Derriana. This book told the story of the famous Siege of Londonderry and the defense of Enniskillen in 1688-89. Graham combined older historical accounts into a single story. He also added parts from an old play about these events. He included a list of important people from the siege, along with short biographies about them.

Orange Order and Public Activities

John Graham became a Chaplain, or religious leader, in the Orange Institution by 1820. He was reappointed to this role many times. In 1825, he was chosen as the Grand Master for the Orange Lodge in Londonderry. This position gave him a lot of influence over local Orange groups in the county. By 1832, he was even called "the Father of the Orangemen of Ireland."

Some people believed that Graham joined the Orange Order to advance his career in the church. However, by 1830, it seemed his strong connection to the Order showed his dedication to his beliefs, even if it meant giving up other opportunities. After he died, people remembered him for his strong principles and for helping the Orange Order follow the law.

Graham was also recognized for supporting the general Protestant interest. His health and work were often celebrated at events marking the Shutting of the Gates of Derry. In 1827, Sir George Hill, a Member of Parliament, praised Graham. Hill said Graham had dedicated his time and talents to supporting Protestant interests and deserved the gratitude of Londonderry's citizens.

However, when George Robert Dawson, another Member of Parliament, changed his mind and supported the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, Graham was very upset. He saw this act as a great loss for England. Graham strongly campaigned against Dawson's re-election. His efforts earned him admiration from Dublin's Common Councilmen, who voted to give him the freedom of their city.

Graham often made dramatic appearances at political events. In 1830, he led a procession of 400 voters into Derry on a white horse. In 1831, he took control of a public meeting in Coleraine while wearing a gold image of William the Third around his neck. He was known for his lively and sometimes unusual behavior at these gatherings.

Later Publications

During the 1820s, John Graham wrote many poems. He said he wrote them in his free time while actively defending the Protestant religion. His political poems were published in newspapers in England. In 1829, a large collection of his poems was published as Poems, Chiefly Historical. This book was dedicated to Lord Kenyon, a leader in the Orange Society. It showed his skill with different types of English poetry.

Also in 1829, a second edition of his Derriana book was published, titled A History of the Siege of Derry and Defence of Enniskillen. He also planned to write a history of Londonderry and the North-West of Ireland, but this book was never fully published. However, some of its planned content appeared in articles he wrote for local newspapers in the 1840s.

In 1839, he published A History of Ireland: From The Relief of Londonderry in 1689 to the Surrender of Limerick in 1691. He intended this to be part of a four-volume history of Ireland. Two years later, he published Ireland Preserved, where he reworked old historical plays and expanded his biographical notes from Derriana.

Life in the Parish and Family

Even though John Graham earned a good income as Rector of Magilligan, he lived a simple life. He didn't buy fancy furniture and was always very frugal. However, he was very generous to others, especially to widows and orphans. He also traveled often. He spent his own money to pursue legal cases, such as prosecuting a Catholic priest for marrying a Catholic and a Protestant without a Church of Ireland ceremony, which was against a law at the time. Because of his generosity, he didn't leave much money to his family when he died.

In 1842, when a letter in the newspaper suggested he neglected his parish, his congregation quickly defended him. Over 130 members of his Church of Ireland congregation signed a letter saying he was a reliable minister and cared for the poor of all religions. This was supported by a letter from 100 Roman Catholics in the parish, who praised his kindness and said he was always present among them.

It was also said that he worked to create "unity and harmony amongst the Protestants of Ireland."

Death and Family

John Graham passed away in Magilligan on March 9, 1844, and was buried in the churchyard there. Years after his death, people tried to raise money for a memorial stone for him. It took a long time, and the memorial was still incomplete years later. Eventually, some funds were used for installations in the Apprentice Boys’ Memorial Hall in Derry, including a tablet in his memory.

Graham married Elizabeth Johnson in 1802. They had many children, with their youngest being born in 1832. Elizabeth died in 1845.

Their oldest son, Rev. James Graham (1804–1845), also became a clergyman and a leader in the Orange Order. He later became the Senior Curate of St Columb's Cathedral in Londonderry. He was the father of a well-known journalist named Charlotte Eliza Humphry.

John Graham's younger sons included Rev. Richard Graham (1807–1876), who was a chaplain in Trinidad and known for his kindness. Another son, William Graham (1811–1858), became a surgeon. He was a ship's doctor on the Hannah when it hit ice in 1849. He was injured while trying to help others. He recovered and returned to Ireland.

Lasting Impact

John Graham's historical accounts of the Williamite War in Ireland are still important today. He researched the topic when many old written records and oral stories were still available, which have since been lost. As early as 1829, people noted that he had "rescued from oblivion important facts" that would have otherwise been lost. Some believe his work helped famous historian Macaulay write his own detailed history of the Siege of Derry.

During his lifetime, Graham was known as "the Poet Laureate of the Northern Orangemen." His songs were very popular in the mid-1800s. David O'Donoghue later called him "the best of the Orange poets." However, because of his strong Orange views and the specific nature of many of his songs, his poetic skills were sometimes overlooked by others.

In 1861, a newspaper suggested that his works would become more important after his death. In 1892, his Poems, Chiefly Historical were republished as Loyal Lays of Ancient Derry. The publishers hoped that these poems would eventually be recognized as important Irish literature, even after old political disagreements faded away.