James Grahme

James Grahme (his own spelling) or Graham (1649–1730) was an English army officer, courtier, politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1685 and 1727. After the Glorious Revolution he was involved for ten years in Jacobite schemes and plots. Early life Grahme was born at Norton Conyers in Yorkshire in March 1649, the second son of Sir George Graham, bart., of Netherby, Cumberland, and his wife, Lady Mary Johnston, second daughter of James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell. He was educated under Richard Busby at Westminster School, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 16 July 1666, aged 16. Military man Grahme received a commission from Louis XIV on 15 May 1671 to be captain of the regiment of Scottish infantry of Douglas. On 29 March 1673 he was appointed by Charles II to the captaincy of a company of foot commanded by the Earl of Carlisle, and on 15 November of the same year he became captain of a company of the royal regiment of English infantry, his commission bearing the signature of Louis. On 1 February 1674 Grahme was promoted to the captaincy of twelve companies composing two battalions of the royal regiment of English infantry commanded by the Duke of Monmouth, but on 3 November that year, while in camp at Dettweiler, he obtained leave from Turenne to return to England. From Charles he received, on 1 January 1675, the captaincy of Sir Charles Littleton's company of foot, and on 30 October following a captaincy in the Earl of Craven's company of foot. On 23 February 1678 Grahme became lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of foot commanded by Lord Morpeth, and also the captaincy of a company.