John Graham was born on the 24th September 1804 in Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
John's father was Archibald Graham, Schoolmaster of Westerkirk school, Bentpath, Langholm and his mother Margaret Clerk
of Langholm, Dumfriesshire. John was the second child named John, the first died in infancy in 1799 his other siblings
were Elizabeth, Grizell, Peter, Mary, William, Agnes and another Peter, mortality rates were high in those days.
John Graham went in 1826 with Sir John Malcolm, a close friend of Archibald Graham, to Bombay where John was employed as
Deputy Postmaster General and also Superintendant of the Botanic Garden in Bombay, where he worked as a young scientist in
the Botany field. While in Bombay, India he met Eleanor Susanna Stanley and married on 22nd January 1833, she had a short
life and died on the 3rd of July 1834, she is buried near John in Kandalla near Poona, India. John died suddenly on the
24th of May 1839 also at Kandalla near Poona, East India
John wrote a book titled "Catalogue of the Plants Growing in Bombay and its Vicinity"
The book is described as a Catalogue of the Plants Growing in Bombay and Its Vicinity: Spontaneous, Cultivated Or Introduced,
as Far as They Have Been Ascertained By John Graham, Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India, Agricultural and Horticultural
Society of Western India Published by Government Press, 1839, 254 pages according to
Google Books
and who died at Khandala in 1839 at the early age of thirty-four, gives
William Carey
due honour in his rare Catalogue of the Plants Growing
in Bombay and its Vicinity, which all botanists consider a most useful work.
From an Indian government website
The Gazetteers Department
the following is displayed:
About a hundred yards to the west of the travellers' bungalow is a pyramid-shaped stone monument to Mr. Graham the botanist.
The inscription runs: To JOHN GRAHAM, Esqr
DEPUTY POST MASTER GENERAL OF BOMBAY
AN ACTIVE ORIGINATOR, WARM SUPPORTER and ACCOMPLISHED MEMBER
of the AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of WESTERN INDIA.
Born at WESTERKIRK on ESK 1805
Died at KANDALLA 28th May 1839.
ERECTED by his numerous Friends throughout this PRESIDENCY
IN COMMEMORATION OF
The many Estimable Qualities for which he was distinguished in all the relation of Private Life and
The untiring exertion to oblige for which he was not less Conspiouous In the Discharge of his Official Functions
And in token of their high sense
Of his Disinterested Labours and Valuable Contribution
in the cause of Botanical Science.
The Life and Correspondence of Major-General
Sir John Malcolm, G. C. B
Of these boys, John was the fourth. He was born on the 2nd of May, 1769.If he was conspicuous for any
thing in his childhood, it was less for a studious habit than for a certain quickness of parts, which enabled him to prepare his
lessons as he trudged up the hill on his way to school; and for that fearlessness of heart and activity of body, the boyish result
of which is commonly mischief. The tradition is, that "Jock" was the scapegrace and the scapegoat of the family. The Westerkirk
schoolmaster, Mr. Archibald Graham, used to declare, whatever wild pranks were committed, that " Jock was at the bottom of them."
No matter how little apparent his participation in the exploit may have been, still the preceptor clung to his formula, and exclaimed,
" Jock's at the bottom of it." It might well have been a matter of serious concern, even to one in prosperous circumstances, how to
provide for all these robust boys. To George Malcolm, after his misfortunes, it was the study and anxiety of his life. Fortunately
he had many friends, friends in his own native Eskdale, and friends in the great English metropolis. For the eldest boy, Robert, an
appointment was obtained as a writer in the service of the great Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies. James, f the second
son, was provided for in the Marines, with a fair field of distinguished service before him. For the third boy, Pulteny,J a midshipman's
berth was secured in a man-of-war, and he was on the road to become a great admiral, and one of England's best naval heroes. And now,
when yet only eleven years old, John was set down in the Burnfoot book of fate for a military career in the East.
Additional information kindly supplied by Adittya Dharap from Mumbai, India, pictured below.
