THE Chairman of Lanarkshire County Council is a son of
Patrick Graham, W.S., Edinburgh, and was born in that city in 1835. He was
educated at Edinburgh Academy, entered on a manufacturing and commercial career,
and at the age of twenty-one went to Calcutta. The Suez Canal was not then
thought of, and the railway across Egypt was not opened, but he went by that
route, and sailed from Suez in the paddle-wheel steamer of that time. One of his
earliest experiences in India was the Mutiny, during which he enrolled for
service in the Volunteer Cavalry. Two years later, in China, he was among the
first civilians to enter Canton after its capture, and was blockaded by Chinese
rebels in Shanghai. He also spent some time in Manila, and would have entered
Japan, but found the country closed against foreigners. In 1860 he came home and
took a partnership in the firm of Crum, Graham & Co. for four years, till the
concern was wound up. His next experience was that of manager of a Calcutta bank
which had become involved in mining speculations in Nevada and California. He
went to these countries to try and retrieve the fortunes of the undertaking, but
these falling out ill, he returned, and became principal buyer for a large house
of East India merchants in Manchester. Once more he went to Calcutta as a
partner of the firm of Graham & Co.; then in 1875 he succeeded to the family
estates; and since that time has devoted himself to the public business of the
counties in which his interests lie. He is the owner of Craigallan in
Stirlingshire, Lymekilns in Lanarkshire, Fereneze in Renfrewshire, and Kirkhill
in Ayrshire. For five years, 1861-5, he was a captain in the 3rd Renfrewshire
Rifle Volunteers, and for a considerable time, more recently, was Parish Council
Representative of Strathblane on the Western District Committee of
Stirlingshire. His chief energies, however, have been devoted to Lanarkshire. On
the passing of the Local Government Act of 1889, he was elected as
representative of the South Division of Cambuslang on the County Council. In
1893 he was appointed Chairman of the Middle Ward District Committee, and in
1898 he became Convener of the County. He is also one of the Extra Parliamentary
Panel of Commissioners under the Private Legislation (Scotland) Act of 1899. He
is a Justice of the Peace and Deputy-Lieutenant for the Counties of Lanark and
Renfrew.
Mr. Barns-Graham married in 1868 Wilhelmina, daughter of
William Carstairs, M.D., and has had a family of four daughters and four sons,
of whom three daughters and two sons survive.
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Index of Glasgow Men (1909)