GRAHAM, DAVID WILLIAM [SSNE 3914]

Surname

GRAHAM

First name

DAVID WILLIAM

Title/rank

LIEUTENANT GENERAL BARON MORPHIE

Nationality

SCOT

Region

MORPHIE, ABERDEENSHIRE

Social status

OFFICER

Religion

CATHOLIC

Text source

David Graham was the first count in Russian service, though the origin of his title is unclear. Alias Baron of Morphie. He served in Sweden, Spain, Poland, Bavaria and Austria for 22 years. In 1679 he came to Russia to "see his kinsmen and friends" Paul Menzies, Patrick Gordon, and Colonel Hamilton. In 1682 after repeated petitions he was accepted by the Tsar as a major general. He was in command of a regiment in Smolensk, Moscow and Belgorod. He took part in the Crimean campaigns 1687-9 and was made lieutenant general. He was a Roman Catholic.

W. Barnhill and P. Dukes, 'North-east Scots in Muscovy in the seventeenth century' in Northern Scotland, vol. 1, no. 1, 1972, pp.49-63.

Service record

RUSSIA, SMOLENSK REGIMENTS

Arrived 1682-01-01, as MAJOR GENERAL

Departed 1689-12-31, as LT. GENERAL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY