Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Montrose
ID
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The Duke of Montrose ca. 1967
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rhodesia | |
| In office 31 December 1966 – 11 September 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Ian Smith |
| Succeeded by | Jack Howman |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 17 December 1962 – 31 December 1966 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Field Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Herbert Jack Quinton |
| Succeeded by | George Rudland |
| Minister of Lands and Natural Resources | |
| In office 17 December 1962 – 14 April 1964 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Field Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Herbert Jack Quinton |
| Succeeded by | Philip van Heerden (Mines and Lands) |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 25 June 1957 – 10 February 1992 Hereditary Peerage |
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| Preceded by | The 6th Duke of Montrose |
| Succeeded by | The 8th Duke of Montrose |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Angus Graham
2 May 1907 Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Died | 10 February 1992 (aged 84) Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Spouses |
Isabel Veronia Sellar
(m. 1930; div. 1950)Susan Semple
(m. 1952) |
| Children | 6, including James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose |
| Parents | James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose Lady Mary Douglas-Hamilton |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose ID (born May 2, 1907 – died February 10, 1992) was an important person from Scotland who became a politician and farmer in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He was known as the Earl of Kincardine and later the Marquess of Graham before he became the Duke of Montrose. He served as the Minister of Agriculture in Rhodesia and was involved in Rhodesia's decision to become independent in 1965.
Contents
About James Graham
Early Life and Education
James Angus Graham was born in Scotland in 1907. His father was the 6th Duke of Montrose. His mother was Lady Mary Louise. He was also related to Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, a famous Scottish soldier.
He went to school at Eton College and then studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford.
Life in Rhodesia
In 1930, James Graham moved to Southern Rhodesia. There, he owned a large cattle ranch. He also worked for a company called A.E. & I., which was part of a bigger chemical company.
He imported special Brahman cattle from Texas to start a high-quality cattle farm. His family lived on Derry Farm near Salisbury, where they grew crops like maize and tobacco.
Military Service
While on holiday in England in 1939, World War II began. James Graham joined the Royal Naval Reserve. He became a Lieutenant. He served on a ship called HMS Kandahar. He also served in the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and at Aden.
Political Career
In 1954, James Graham became the 7th Duke of Montrose after his father passed away. He then took his place in the House of Lords in the British Parliament in 1957.
In Rhodesia, he was a strong supporter of policies that kept different groups of people separate. He was a member of the Dominion Party. He also helped start and fund a political group called the Rhodesian Front. He served as the Minister of Agriculture and later as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Rhodesia.
Later Life
Even though he thought his family would stay in Rhodesia for many generations, he moved to South Africa in 1979. Later, he moved back to Scotland.
He could speak Gaelic. He loved the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. He was buried in his family's cemetery near Loch Lomond.
Family Life
James Graham was married twice. His first wife was Isabel Veronia Sellar. They had two children together:
- Lady Fiona Mary Graham (1932–2017)
- James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose (born 1935)
He later married Susan Mary Joclyn Semple from Kenya. They had four children:
- Lady Cairistiona Anne Graham (born 1955)
- Lord Donald Alasdair Graham (born 1956)
- Lord Calum Ian Graham
- Lady Lilias Catriona Maighearad Graham
He had many grandchildren from his children.
