Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Atholl
DL
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The Duke of Atholl
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| Preceded by | James Stewart-Murray, 9th Duke of Atholl |
| Succeeded by | John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl |
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| Born | 19 June 1931 |
| Died | 27 February 1996 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
George Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl, also known as Wee Iain, was a Scottish nobleman and a large landowner. He was born on June 19, 1931, and passed away on February 27, 1996. He held the special title of Deputy Lieutenant (DL).
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Iain Murray was the only surviving child of Lieutenant-Colonel George Anthony Murray. His father sadly died during the Second World War. His mother was the Honourable Angela Pearson.
Young George went to Eton College, a famous school. Later, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. In 1957, he became the Duke of Atholl. He inherited this important title from his distant cousin, James Stewart-Murray, 9th Duke of Atholl. Even though he was called "Wee Iain," he was actually very tall, standing at six feet, five inches!
Managing the Atholl Estate
When Atholl became Duke, he inherited a huge estate. It covered about 120,000 acres (around 485 square kilometers). This land was still very large, even though it was smaller than it had been in the 1800s.
Under his care, the land around Blair Castle became very important. It grew into a major spot for tourism and forestry. He was an expert in forestry and often spoke about it. He shared his knowledge in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He was chosen as a Scottish Representative Peer in 1958.
He also brought back the Atholl Highlanders. This is a special ceremonial army. It's made up of people who work on the estate and family friends. The Highlanders became a popular attraction for visitors.
Public and Business Roles
The Duke was an active member of the Conservative Monday Club. He also held several important business jobs. He was the Chairman of BPM Holdings from 1972 to 1983. He also led the Westminster Press Group from 1974 to 1996. From 1975 to 1983, he was a director at Pearson Longman. In 1980, he was named a deputy lieutenant for the area of Perth and Kinross.
Later Life and Legacy
The Duke of Atholl never married. He passed away in February 1996 when he was 64 years old. After his death, his title went to his second cousin, John Murray. This cousin was a land surveyor living in South Africa.
The day before the 10th Duke died, he made an important decision. He gave Blair Castle and most of his lands to a charitable trust. This meant that his heir, John Murray, would not inherit them directly. The new Duke had said he was not very interested in leaving South Africa. He felt strong ties to his home country, saying, "I am a South African, not a Scotsman."
