James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Montrose
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James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
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| Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland | |
| In office 1716–1733 |
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| Monarch | George I George II |
| Preceded by | The Marquess of Annandale |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Ilay |
| Lord Clerk Register | |
| In office 1716–1716 |
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| Monarch | George I |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 24 September 1714 – August 1715 |
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| Monarch | George I |
| Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland | |
| In office 1709–1713 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Lord President of the Council of Scotland | |
| In office 1706–1707 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Lord High Admiral of Scotland | |
| In office 1705–1706 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Lord President of the Council of Scotland | |
| In office 1704–1705 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1682 Scotland |
| Died | 7 January 1742 (aged 59) London, England, Great Britain |
| Spouse | Christian Carnegie |
| Children | 5, including William and George |
James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose (born April 1682 – died 7 January 1742) was an important Scottish leader in the early 1700s. He held many high-ranking government jobs during his life.
Life and Career
James Graham was the only son of James Graham, the 3rd Marquess of Montrose. His mother was Lady Christian Leslie. In 1702, he married Christian Carnegie, who was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Northesk. They had several children together, including William Graham and Lord George Graham.
Originally, James was known as the 4th Marquess of Montrose. However, in 1707, he was given the higher title of a duke. This was a special reward for his strong support of the Act of Union. This important act joined Scotland and England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. At the time, he was serving as the Lord President of the Scottish Privy Council, which was a group of advisors to the monarch.
James Graham held many important roles in the government:
- He was the Lord High Admiral of Scotland from 1705 to 1706. This role was in charge of Scotland's navy.
- He served as the Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1709 to 1713. This person was responsible for the monarch's private seal on important documents.
- From 1716 to 1733, he was the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. This was an even more important role, handling the official seal of the country.
In 1714, after the death of Queen Anne, James Graham was one of the Lords of the Regency for Great Britain. This meant he helped govern the country until the new king, George I, arrived. He also briefly served as the Secretary of State for Scotland during King George I's reign.
Beyond his political work, James Graham was interested in other areas. In 1719, he helped start the Royal Academy of Music (1719). This organization was created to put on baroque opera shows. Later, in 1739, he became a Governor of London's Foundling Hospital. This hospital was set up to care for abandoned children. For much of his adult life, he was also the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, which is a very old and famous university in Scotland.
James Graham passed away on January 7, 1742, at the age of 59. He was buried at Aberuthven, in a special building called the Montrose Mausoleum.
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James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
