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Stephen Victor Graham

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Stephen Victor Graham
Governor of American Samoa
In office
September 9, 1927 – August 2, 1929
Preceded byHenry Francis Bryan
Succeeded byGatewood Sanders Lincoln
Personal details
BornMarch 4, 1874
Cass County, Michigan
DiedSeptember 2, 1955 (1955-09-03) (aged 81)
SpouseViola D Graham
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
OccupationNaval officer
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy Seal United States Navy
Rank Rear admiral
CommandsUSS Cincinnati
USS Finland

Stephen Victor Graham (March 4, 1874 – September 2, 1955) was a United States Naval Rear Admiral and the governor of American Samoa from September 9, 1927, to August 2, 1929. Graham attended the United States Naval Academy and served on numerous ships before being posted to the governorship. As governor, he established a strong charter for the former Bank of American Samoa and reworked Samoan fiscal law. After his governorship, he worked at the Naval Academy as the head of the Modern Languages department.

Life

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Early life

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Graham was born on March 4, 1874, in Cass County, Michigan.[1]

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Graham was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from Michigan on May 19, 1890. He graduated July 1, 1896, and received the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) on July 1, 1899. He served on USS Cincinnati, USS Adams, USS Saratoga, and USS Rainbow.[2] Later in his career, as a lieutenant commander, Graham headed the Department of Modern Languages at the United States Naval Academy.[3] After retiring, Graham was awarded the rank of rear admiral on March 3, 1931.[1]

Governorship

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On September 9, 1927, Graham became Governor of American Samoa. While in office, Graham rechartered the Bank of American Samoa and amended current fiscal laws for the island. He ceded the post to Gatewood Sanders Lincoln on August 2, 1929.[4] Shortly after Captain Graham became governor, he received a letter from the Mau saying they would not pay any more taxes until a decision had been made regarding the “desire of the Samoa League for civil government.” Graham was invited to the Mau headquarters in Nuʻuuli, where he told them not paying taxes would be an act of defiance. The Mau said they were not hostile to the Navy administration, but believed the time had come for a change. After governor Graham explained the “Samoa for Samoans” policy of the Navy, Mau members were so impressed and discontinued their taxation efforts.[5]

Bibliography

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  • Graham, Stephen Victor (1911). Nautical Phraseology in English, French, Spanish and German: For Use at the U. S. Naval Academy. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Academy.

References

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  1. ^ a b Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux (2007). "The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606–2007" (PDF). Government of American Samoa. p. 56. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  2. ^ Hamersly, Lewis Randolph (1902). The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. L. R. Hamersly. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  3. ^ Graham, Stephen Victor (1911). Nautical Phraseology in English, French, Spanish and German: For Use at the U. S. Naval Academy. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Academy. p. 3. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  4. ^ Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux (2007). "The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606–2007" (PDF). Government of American Samoa. pp. 56, 186(?). Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  5. ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 204. ISBN 9781573062992.
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