John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl

The Most Noble John Murray, 1st Duke and 2nd Marquess of Atholl (b.1660 d.1724) was a Scottish nobleman and politician.

Related Topics:
The Most Noble - 1660 - 1724 - Scottish

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Murray was born on February 24, 1660, and was styled Lord Inverary, until 1696, at which point he assumed the style Earl of Tullibardine, his father having become the Marquess of Atholl.

Related Topics:
February 24 - 1660

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He was a supporter of William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution, taking the oath of loalty in September 1689, but was unable to prevent the majority of his clan, from joining Dundee under the command of his brother, Ross.

Related Topics:
William of Orange - Glorious Revolution - Dundee

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Murray married Catherine, daughter of William Douglas-Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, with whom he had one daughter and six sons.

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In 1693 he was appointed as one of the commissioners to the inquiry into the massacre of Glencoe. In 1695, Murray was made sheriff of Perth, in 1696 he became secretary of state, and from 1696 to 1698 was Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland. With the accession of Anne in 1702, he was made a privy councillor, and in 1703 became Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland. The same year he succeeded father as 2nd marquess of Atholl, and on 30 June 1703 he was created Duke of Atholl, marquess of Tullibardine, earl of Strathtay and Strathardle, Viscount Balquhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, and Lord Murray of Balvenie and Gask.

Related Topics:
Massacre of Glencoe - Secretary of state - Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland - Anne - Privy councillor - Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland

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In 1704 was made a Knight of the Thistle. In 1704 an unsuccessful attempt was made by Simon, Lord Lovat, who used the Duke of Queensberry as a tool to implicate him in a Jacobite plot against Queen Anne. The intrigue was disclosed by Robert Ferguson, and Atholl sent a memorial to the queen on the subject, which resulted in Queensberry's downfall. But the affair had a damaging effect on Murray's career, and he was deprived of office in October 25, 1704. He subsequently became a strong antagonist of the government, and of the Hanoverian succession. He vehemently opposed Union during the years 1705-1707, and entered into a project which would have resisted the crown by force, holding Stirling Castle with the aid of the Cameronians, however, he chose to accept "compensation" of £1000 in order to desist with these plans.

Related Topics:
Knight of the Thistle - Simon, Lord Lovat - Duke of Queensberry - Hanoverian - Cameron

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With the downfall of the Whigs and the advent of the Tories to power, Murray returned to favour and to office. He was chosen a representative peer in the House of Lords in 1710 and in 1712 was restored to his position as High Commissioner and Keeper of the Privy Seal.

Related Topics:
Whig - Tories - Representative peer - House of Lords

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With the accession of King George I he was again dismissed from office. Three of his sons joined the Jacobites in the rebellion of 1715, but Murray himself remained loyal to the government. On June 4, 1717 he apprehended Rob Roy MacGregor, who, however, succeeded in escaping.

Related Topics:
King George I - Jacobites - Rebellion of 1715 - Rob Roy MacGregor

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Murray died on the 14th of November 1724, and was succeeded by his son James.

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