| Clan Graham | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Greumaich nan cearc (Highland Grahams only)[1] | |||
 Crest: A falcon Proper, beaked and armed Or, killing a stork Argent, Armed Gules | |||
| Motto | Ne oublie (Do Not Forget)[2] | ||
| Profile | |||
| District | Loch Katrine,Perthshire,Dundee andMontrose[2] | ||
| Plant badge | Laurel[2] | ||
| Pipe music | Killiecrankie[2] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| The Most Noble James | |||
| The8th Duke of Montrose (An Greumach Mòr) | |||
| Seat | Buchanan Castle[3] | ||
| Historic seat | Mugdock Castle[3] | ||
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Clan Graham (Greumaich nan Cearc[ˈkɾʲeːmɪçnəŋʲˈkʲaɾʃc]) has two main families ofScottish clans, the Grahams of Menteith (descended from the Earl Of Menteith) and the Grahams of Montrose (descended from the Duke of Montrose). Each have their own tartan patterns. William Graham became the 7th Earl of Menteith in 1610 in what is now Perthshire, Scotland. The Grahams of Montrose had territories in both theScottish Highlands andLowlands, and the chief of the clan rose to become the Marquess and laterDuke of Montrose.
There is a tradition that the first Graham was oneGreme who broke the RomanAntonine Wall driving the Roman legions out of Scotland.[5] However the likely origin is that the chiefs of Clan Graham were ofAnglo-Norman origin.[5] The Manor of Gregham is recorded inWilliam the Conqueror'sDomesday Book.[5] WhenDavid I claimed the throne of Scotland, Graham was one of the knights who accompanied him.[5] SirWilliam de Graham was present at the erection ofHolyrood Abbey, witnessing its foundationcharter.[5]
The first lands that the chiefs of Clan Graham appear to have held were aroundDalkeith inMidlothian.[5] Sir Nicholas de Graham attended the Parliament of 1290 where theTreaty of Birgham was signed.[5]
The Clan Graham fought at theBattle of Dunbar in 1296 where SirPatrick de Graham of Kincardine was the only man of all the Scots not to retreat and instead fought to the death.[6]
SirJohn de Graham, was a friend and follower ofWilliam Wallace.[7] Sir John de Graham is regarded as hero for rescuing Wallace at Queensbury.[7] 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 theBattle of Falkirk.[6][7] John de Graham's name is still perpetuated in the district of Grahamston.[7] The grave of Sir John de Graham in Falkirk churchyard is still to be seen, with table stones of three successive periods above it.[7] One great two-handed sword of Sir John the Graham is preserved atBuchanan Castle by theDuke of Montrose.[7] Another was long in possession of the Grahams of Orchil and is now treasured by theFreemason Lodge at Auchterarder.[7]
The Clan Graham also fought against the English at theBattle of Durham in 1346, in support ofKing David II of Scots.[7] The Grahams acquired the lands of Mugdock north of Glasgow, where they built a stout castle around 1370.
InJohn 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.[8] 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.
The Clan Graham fought at theBattle of Sauchieburn led by the third Lord Graham.[7] The battle was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a brook about two miles south ofStirling, Scotland. In 1504 Lord Graham, on account of his gallantry was madeEarl of Montrose. He would go on to lead part of the Scottish Vanguard against the English at theBattle of Flodden in 1513, part of theAnglo-Scottish Wars where he was slain.[9][6] The Clan Graham was among the clans which fought against the English at theBattle of Pinkie Cleugh 1547, where Robert, the eldest son of the second Earl, was killed.[7]
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.[5] Montrose had had successive victories at theBattle of Tippermuir - with the support of Alaster M'Coll Keitach (known asAlasdair MacColla McDonald) and his Irish soldiers,[11][12] theBattle of Aberdeen, theBattle of Inverlochy (1645),[13][14] theBattle of Auldearn,[15][16] theBattle of Alford,[17] and theBattle of Kilsyth.[18] After several years of continuous victories, Montrose was finally defeated at theBattle of Philiphaugh on 13 September 1645 by theCovenanter army ofDavid Leslie, Lord Newark,[5][19] restoring the power of theCommittee of Estates.[20]
In 1646 Montrose laid siege toChanonry Castle which was held by theClan Mackenzie and took it from them after a siege of four days.[21] In March 1650 he capturedDunbeath Castle of theClan Sinclair, who would later support him at Carbisdale.[22] Montrose was defeated at theBattle of Carbisdale by the Munros, Rosses, Sutherlands and Colonel Alexander Strachan.[23][24] He was subsequently captured and executed in Edinburgh in 1650.[25]
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 theBattle 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 theBattle of Bothwell Brig where he put down a rebellion by the Covenanters. The battle was fought on 22 June 1679 inLanarkshire.
Dundee was appointed Commander in Chief of all Scottish Forces by King James VII but died at theBattle of Killiecrankie whilst commanding theJacobite Forces during their victory over a much largerWilliamite Army in 1689.
The Clan Graham took no side in the Jacobite Uprisings and remained neutral throughout. Highlanders can thankJames Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose for the repeal in 1782 of theDress Act 1746 prohibiting the wearing of highland dress.[5] He persuaded Parliament to remove the law forbidding Scots to wear their tartan.[26]
| Tartan image | Notes |
|---|---|
.png) | Graemetartan, as published in 1842 inVestiarium Scoticum. There are two main families of Graham clan tartans, the Graham of Montrose tartans and the Graham of Menteith tartans. |
Since 1992, the chief of the family has beenJames, Duke of Montrose, Marquis of Graham and Buchanan, Earl of Kincardine, Viscount of Dundaff, Lord of Mugdock, Aberuthven and Fintrie, Baronet of Braco.
