Colonel John Graham (24 April 1778 – 13 March 1821) was a British soldier and administrator best known for founding the settlement of Grahamstown in the Cape Colony in 1812.
In January 1806, Graham was promoted to the rank of Major in the 93rd Regiment of Foot, in which capacity he took part in the Battle of Blaauwberg, under which the Dutch Cape Colony was annexed by the British Crown.
Rapid promotion to Lieutenant Colonel led to him being given charge of the Cape Regiment, based at Wynberg, which Graham trained as light infantry capable of delivering outstanding performance in wooded terrain.
In 1811, Graham was sent with the Cape Regiment and Boer auxiliaries from Swellendam, Graaff-Reinet and Uitenhage to undertake the task which was to define his military career: clearing around 20,000 Xhosa people led by Ndlambe ka Rharhabe.
[4] Of Graham's grandsons, two were knighted, one as Secretary of Law of the Cape Colony, the other Judge President of the Eastern Districts Court in Grahamstown.