Graham, the only son of John Graham, managing clerk to Thomas Griffith of the Bailey,
Durham, was born in
Claypath, Durham. He was educated at
Durham School and at
Christ's College, Cambridge, where he attained high proficiency as a classical and mathematical scholar. In 1816 he graduated as fourth wrangler and was bracketed with
Marmaduke Lawson as chancellor's medallist, proceeding B.A. in 1816, M.A. in 1819, B.D. in 1829, and D.D. by royal mandate in 1831. He was elected a fellow and tutor of his college in 1816, and on the resignation of Dr
John Kaye in 1830, was chosen Master of Christ's College. In 1828 he was collated to the prebend of Sanctæ Crucis in
Lincoln Cathedral, and six years later to the prebend of
Leighton Ecclesia in the same diocese. He served twice as
vice-chancellor of the university, first in 1831 and again in 1840. It was in the latter year that he admitted
Lord Lyndhurst to the office of high steward of the university, and his speech on that occasion is printed in
Cooper's
Annals of Cambridge. Ordained in 1818, he became rector of
Willingham, Cambridgeshire, in 1843. He was nominated chaplain to
Prince Albert on 26 January 1841, and in the contest for the chancellorship of Cambridge University on 27 February 1847 he acted as chairman of the prince's committee. In 1848 on the translation of
John Bird Sumner to the see of Canterbury, Graham received the vacant
bishopric of Chester. His consecration took place in the
Chapel Royal, Whitehall, on 14 May 1848, and on 16 June he was installed in
Chester Cathedral. On his departure from Cambridge, the mayor and council of the town presented him with an address of congratulation on his appointment, the only instance in which such a tribute had been offered by that body. The bishop was a liberal in politics, but seldom spoke or voted in the
House of Lords. He was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Commission and took an active part in its proceedings. His manner of life was simple. His principal aima was to preserve peace within the diocese, though he could be firm when necessary. His conciliatory approach extended to the dissenters of Chester, a stance that caused some offence to the
high church party. On 25 September 1849 he was appointed
Clerk of the Closet to the Queen, a position he held until his death. He enjoyed the friendship of the Prince Consort and the respect of the Queen. He died at the Palace, Chester, on 15 June 1865, and was buried in Chester Cemetery on 20 June. In 1833 he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Robert Porteous, by whom he had eight children, the eldest being the Rev. John Graham (1834–1873), registrar of the
diocese of Chester. ==Publications==