Graham, James Duncan (sold)
James Duncan Graham (April 4, 1799 - December 28, 1865) was an American topographical engineer active with the Army Corps of Engineers in the first half of the 19th century. Graham was born in Prince William County, Virginia to a family of Scottish descent. He studied at West Point and entered the army upon graduating in 1817 as a Third Lieutenant of the Corps of Artillery. He is reported to have embodied the 'highest accomplishments of the polished gentleman and distinguished scholar.' During his long career with the Topographical Engineers, Graham participated in many of the most important events of the 19th century, ranging from the Mexican American War (1846 - 1848) and the Civil War (1861 - 1865), to surveying the Texas Boundary, producing the first scientifically accurate survey of Cape Cod, mapping the Great Lakes, and the survey of the Mason Dixon Line. Graham died in his home in Boston of sudden heart failure at 66 years of age.
Used by Henry David Thoreau when writing 'Cape Cod.'
A Map of the Extremity of Cape Cod Including the Townships of Provincetown and Truro: A Chart of Their Sea Coast and of Cape Cod Harbour, State of Massachusetts.
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An exceptional discovery, this is James Duncan Graham's wall map of Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod. At the time of issue, and for a long time afterwards, this was the definitive map of the Provincetown area and the surrounding waters, said to have been used by, among many others, Henry David Thoreau when writing Cape Cod. The map was produced to
aid in the projection of the works for the military defenses of the important harbor formed by the peculiar spiral termination of [Cape Cod], and also to aid our ships of war and other vessels in entering it with safety after making this prominent headland. (Congressional Report, 25th Congress, Second Session, p. 3).(more details)