Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 22.djvu/321

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Graham
315
Graham

ever since held its ground. Graham was the first general mechanician of his day. He was widely acquainted with practical astronomy, invented many valuable astronomical instruments, and improved others. His manual dexterity was remarkable, and his precision of construction and thoroughness of work unrivalled. Graham made for Halley the great mural quadrant at Greenwich observatory, and also the fine transit instrument and the zenith sector used by Bradley in his discoveries. He supplied the French Academy with the apparatus used for the measurement of a degree of the meridian, and constructed the most complete planetarium known at that time, in which the motions of the celestial bodies were demonstrated with great accuracy. This was made in cabinet form, at the desire of the Earl of Orrery. Graham was a member of the Society of Friends. Though his business was most remunerative, he was above mere money-making. He was singularly frank in communicating his discoveries. He kept his cash in a strong box, having a conscientious objection to interest, and at his death he had bank notes which had been in his possession for thirty years. Though never wasteful he lent considerable sums to friends, accepting no interest. He was many years a fellow of the Royal Society, and in the 'Philosophical Transactions' (vols. xxxi-xlii.) are numerous communications from him upon his discoveries. Graham died on 20 Nov. 1751, at his house in Fleet Street, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, in the same grave as Tompion.

[Gent. Mag. 1751, p. 523; Hutchison's Hist. of Cumberland, 1794; Phil. Trans.]

J. B-y.

GRAHAM, GEORGE (d. 1767), dramatist, educated at Eton, entered King's College, Cambridge, in 1746, where he was elected fellow. An elder brother David obtained the same distinction. He proceeded B.A. 1750, and M.A. 1754; was subsequently ordained, and became an assistant master at his old school. He died in February 1767.

Graham was the author of a masque, 'Telemachus,' which appeared in 1763, and gained much popularity, although never acted. It was favourably reviewed in the 'Critical Review' (vol. xv. 1763), presumably by Dr. Johnson. Baker speaks of it as 'coldly correct, with little to censure, but less to applaud.' A portion of the play was set to music by P. Hayes in 1765. Baker states that Graham was the author of an unpublished tragedy which was refused by Garrick.

[Cooper's Mem. Cambr. i. 228; Baker's Biog. Dram.; Genest's Hist. of the Stage, x. 181; Harwood's Alumni Eton.; Gent. Mag. xxx. 47.]

W. F. W. S.

GRAHAM, GEORGE FARQUHAR (1789–1867), musical amateur, eldest son of Lieutenant-colonel Humphrey Graham, was born in Edinburgh 28 Dec. 1769 (Register of St. Andrew's Parish). At an early age he showed a decided talent for music, and as his parents were rich he was enabled to devote himself to the study of the art, although he never had a master. In 1815 he was chosen one of the secretaries of the first Edinburgh musical festival, to the success of which he materially contributed. For the third evening concert of the festival he composed an overture, which was well received,and in 1816 he published a small volume entitled 'An Account of the First Edinburgh Musical Festival, to which is added some general Observations on Music.' Soon after this he visited France and Italy in pursuit of musical knowledge, and in Florence was greatly impressed by Paganini. Graham was himself a skilful violinist, and formed one of a party of Edinburgh musicians who met occasionally for the practice of quartets by the great masters. On the retirement of Sir Henry Bishop in 1843, he stood unsuccessfully for the musical professorship in Edinburgh University. He died at Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, on 12 March 1867. As a composer Graham was favourably known among his contemporaries, but his published works are not numerous, and few of them are now performed. The songs 'County Guy' (Scott), 'You never longed nor loved' (Goethe), and 'The Mariner's Song' (Allan Cunningham) were considered excellent in their day. It is as a writer on musical subjects that Graham deserves to be remembered, his work in this direction being of considerable value. To the seventh edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica' he contributed the article 'Music,' in which a great deal of important information is compressed into narrow compass. The article was reprinted in a separate form in 1838, with the addition of an introduction and appendix, under the title of 'An Essay on the Theory and Practice of Musical Composition.' An expert at deciphering manuscript music written in the old 'tablature' notation (a method of noting music for the lute), he was able to render much assistance to William Dauney in translating and editing the Skene MS. (published 1838), to the appendix of which he also contributed an ably written paper. For Wood's 'Songs of Scotland' (Edinb. 1848-9) he supplied a series of historical, biographical, and critical notices, showing much judgment and knowledge of national music. For the eighth edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica' he wrote the article 'Organ,' and besides furnishing several