Baronets Graham of Esk (1629)
1st Baronet Graham, Richard Graham, b.?, a.1629, d.1653-1654
The Grahams of Esk were descended from Sir John Graham of Dunblane,
second son of Malise, 1st Earl of Strathearn.
Although famous as an accomplished fighter, he fell from favour and retired to
the Borders, on the banks of the river Esk at the Solway Firth, taking a number
of his kinsmen with him. Later generations of the family considered themselves
neither Scottish not English and were happy to take part in reiving on both
sides of the border. The Grahams prospered under the auspices of the earls of
Cumberland and Richard Graham was created a baronet in the Baronetage of
England in 1629. He represented Carlisle in the English Parliament and fought
on the side of Charles I at the Battle of Edgehill in 1642, where he was
severely wounded. A younger son, Richard Graham (b.1635-1636, d.1711), was
created 1st Baronet Graham of Norton Conyers, also in the Baronetage
of England.
2nd Baronet Graham, George Graham, b.c.1624, a.1653-1654,
d.1657-1658
Son of the 1st Baronet Graham and Catherine Musgrave (b.?,
d.1649).
3rd Baronet Graham, Richard Graham, b.1648, a.1657-1658,
d.1695
Son of the 2nd Baronet and Lady Mary Johnstone, daughter of
James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell.
Educated at Winchester School and then Christ Church College Oxford, he was
elected as MP for Cockermouth in 1675. He was an ardent supporter of the
Stewarts and was rewarded by being created 1st Viscount Preston (in
the county of Haddington) and 1st Lord Graham of Esk, both in the
Peerage of Scotland, in 1681.
Viscounts Preston (1681)
1st Viscount Preston, Richard Graham, b.1648, a.1681, d.1695
He served for a time as Envoy to the Court of France before returning to
England at the accession of James VII & II. He was elected as MP for
Cumberland and had high hopes of receiving an English peerage. His adherence to
the Protestant religion, however, delayed this appointment. In the meantime, he
was made a Privy Counsellor and in 1688 selected as Lord President of the
Council. After the Revolution he was finally created 1st Viscount
Preston of Netherby and 1st Baron Liddall of Esk by James, but these
titles were not recognised by the House of Lords. Ever the Jacobite, he was
arrested for plotting the restoration of James in 1689, but released after
making an official apology and withdrawing his claim that his peerage was
legal. He continued to plot with other Protestant Jacobites, but was arrested
while on his way to France in 1691. His English baronetcy and estates were
briefly forfeit, but after confessing his guilt he was pardoned and allowed to
live in retirement at Nunnington Hall in Yorkshire.
2nd Viscount Preston, Edward Graham, b.c.1673, a.1695, d.1710
Son of the 1st Viscount and Anne Howard, daughter of Charles
Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle.
3rd Viscount Preston, Charles Graham,
b.1706, a.1710, d.1738-1739
Son of the 2nd Viscount and Mary Dalton. He died without
children and the Scottish titles became extinct. The baronetcy, however,
transferred to his cousin.
Baronets Graham of Esk (1629, continued)
6th Baronet Graham, William Graham, b.1730,
a.1738-1739, d.1774
Great-grandson of the 2nd Baronet Graham,
grandson of William Graham, Dean of Carlisle (b.c.1654, d.1712-1713) and Alice,
surname unknown, and son of Charles Graham (b.c.1708, d.1734) and Priscilla
Billingley.
7th Baronet Graham, Charles Graham, b.1764, a.1774, d.1795
Son of the 6th Baronet and Susannah Reeve
(b.?, d.1788). He died unmarried.
8th Baronet Graham, Robert Graham, b.1769, a.1795, d.1852
Younger brother of the 7th Baronet. He staked his claim for
the vacant earldom of Annandale & Hartfell in 1830, along with several others,
but the Committee of Privileges did not resolve the issue until 1985, whereat
the Graham petition had lapsed.
From this point on I can find no genealogical information regarding the
succession.
9th Baronet Graham, Edward Graham, b.1820, a.1852, d.1864
10th Baronet Graham, Robert James Stuart Graham, b.1845,
a.1864, d.1917
11th Baronet Graham, Montrose
Stuart Graham, b.1875, a.1917, d.1939
12th Baronet Graham, Montrose
Stuart Graham, b.1904, a.1939, d.1975
As of 2008, no proper succession has
been provided to the satisfaction of the Standing Council of the Baronetage.
13th Baronet Graham, Ralph
Wolfe Graham, b.1908, a.1975, d.1988
14th Baronet Graham, Ralph
Stuart Graham, b.1950, a.1988
(Last updated: 11/06/2010)