GRAHAM, James, Mq. of Graham (1755-1836).

Returned for Bedwyn on the Ailesbury interest on 19 June 1790, Graham succeeded to the dukedom on 23 Sept., two months before the opening of the session. Pitt thereby lost the services of an effective debater in the lower House. Subsequently he combined the roles of minor office holder in the outer cabinet, courtier and Scottish grandee.Geo. III. Corresp. ii. 1190. The Duke of Portland wished to see him Foreign secretary in 1801, but he was offered and declined the lord lieutenancy of Ireland, which had eluded him in 1789.Sidmouth mss, Portland to Addington, 11 Feb. 1801; Pellew, Sidmouth, i. 346; HMC Fortescue, i. 525, 527. In 1802 he took advantage of the favour of Addington and the apparent eclipse of his former ally Henry Dundas to cut a figure in Scottish elections, in Stirling and Fife. He was touchy about patronage matters and threatened to resign his offices in November 1804.PRO, Dacres Adams mss 5/111. Pitt’s death ended his political career, as he was out of sympathy with the Grenville ministry. After 1807 he held court appointments only. He died 30 Dec. 1836.