Of all 15 founders of the BOC, William Graham has proved the most elusive to track down information on or any picture. Indeed, almost the only published source that has thus far come to light is his brief, half-page, obituary in Ibis. As this notes, part of the reason for his elusiveness may be that “Graham disliked writing.” Seemingly, he also disliked public speaking, at least on ornithology (see below), as there are no records in the BOC Bulletin of his having contributed any scientific presentation or comment at BOC meetings, although he attended a good number (e.g. three in 1892-3 and four in 1893-4) and his obituary notes that “his genial personality will be much missed at our [= BOC] gatherings”. Likewise, although a member of the BOU from 1886, he appears to have published nothing in Ibis.
Graham was born on 12 January 1850 and originated from Gartmore, presumably the one in the Stirling area of Scotland, but in his early adult life apparently went to New Zealand to try his hand at sheep-farming. Returning to the U.K., he lived initially in Wimbledon but then for much of his adult life near the river Thames in Crayford, then in Kent but now on the eastern edge of Greater London. He appears to have been an iron merchant, with a business in Birmingham, and clearly this and/or inheritance made him a relatively wealthy man, who “devoted to sport and natural history as much time as could be spared from business.” He married and had a number of sons, as there is a reference to a son accompanying him on a trip to the Scilly Islands in 1885 and to two younger sons who were aged 13 and 15 in 1897, but details of his family life are sparse.
His obituary notes that “He was partial to duck-shooting in Holland”, as well as being a good fisherman. His knowledge of fishing seems to have been more than that of a casual sportsman, as “his practical knowledge led to his being appointed Chairman of the National Sea-Fisheries Committee.” In this context, by June 1873, when still in his early twenties, he had become a member by Patrimony (i.e. parental link) of the Fishmonger’s Company, a guild with centuries of history behind it. He was appointed to the Court of the Fishmongers’ Company in February 1885 and became Prime Warden in June 1896, although his early death on 12 March 1897 prevented him from completing his year’s term. Less than two months previously, on 21 January, he had been presiding as Prime Warden “at a dinner [the Livery Dinner], the principal feature of which was the presence of a large proportion of explorers and scientific men, especially ornithologists”.
Also linked to the sea, Graham was clearly an excellent yachtsman, and furthermore he even had a private zoo at his Crayford home. We know this through his close friendship with another BOC founder, Edward Bidwell (see Founders’ Blog no. 9), who clearly benefitted from his sailing ability. In the spring of 1885, Bidwell records accepting an invitation from Graham “to accompany him on a trip to the Isles of Scilly, for the purpose of procuring eggs of some of the sea birds which breed there.” Graham “sent his yacht to Falmouth, and … on Friday, 22 May, 1885, we stepped on board the ‘Wenonah’ yawl, flying the flag of the rear commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club.” Towards the end of the trip, “Three promising youngsters [Cormorants] were caught and carried on board the ‘Wenonah’, eventually to find a home in Mr. Graham’s menagerie at Crayford, where two of them are now in capital condition.”
Graham’s obituary notes that Bidwell, who had a passionate interest in oology, further accompanied him on trips to the Farne Islands and the Bass Rock, no doubt also expedited by Graham’s yachting expertise. Although the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, founded in 1872, has now long been based at Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, for the first twenty years of its existence its home was Erith in Kent, conveniently close to Crayford.
Graham’s death was seemingly quite sudden and unexpected, as he had presided at a Fishmongers’ Court meeting less than a month prior to it, and unfortunately the aftermath was sad. His brother Edward, one of his executors, had to apprise the Fishmongers’ Court that, owing to serious losses incurred in his business, his wife had been left nearly destitute and unable to pay for the education of their two younger sons. Graham must have been held in high respect, as the Fishmongers’ Company determined to grant £100 per year each for three years towards completion of their education.
I am indebted to Peter Capon, Head of Collections and Projects at the Fishmongers’ Company, for supplying information relevant to this blog. Both the BOC and I would be grateful to anyone who can supply more detail regarding William Graham and, in particular, a picture of him.
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Robert Prŷs-Jones
