John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Atholl
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| Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland | |
| In office 1702–1705 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Preceded by | The Marquess of Tweeddale |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Queensberry |
| Chancellor of the University of St Andrews | |
| In office 1697–1724 |
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| Preceded by | Arthur Ross, Archbishop of St Andrews |
| Succeeded by | James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 February 1660 Knowsley Hall, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 14 November 1724 (aged 64) Huntingtower Castle, Perthshire, Scotland |
| Spouses | Lady Catherine Hamilton Mary Ross |
| Children | 21, including William, James, George, and John |
| Parents | John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl (father) Lady Amelia Sophia Stanley (mother) |
John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl (born February 24, 1660 – died November 14, 1724) was an important Scottish nobleman and politician. He held many important jobs during his life. He also fought in the Glorious Revolution to support King William III and Queen Mary II.
Contents
Early Life and Family
John Murray was born in 1660 at Knowsley Hall in Lancashire, England. His father was John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. His mother was Lady Amelia Sophia Stanley. His grandparents were the 7th Earl of Derby and Charlotte de La Trémoille.
John was the first of twelve children in his family. He went to the University of St Andrews in 1676. He was married two times and had 21 children.
Becoming a Duke and Political Career
John Murray was given the title of 1st Earl of Tullibardine by King William III in 1696. Later, in 1703, Queen Anne made him the 1st Duke of Atholl.
He supported King William III during the Glorious Revolution. This was a time when King James II was replaced by William and Mary. John Murray took an oath of loyalty to William in 1689. He tried to stop some of his family's followers from joining King James II's side.
John Murray even laid siege to his family's home, Blair Castle. This castle was held by supporters of King James II. He ended the siege just before a big battle called the Battle of Killiecrankie.
In 1683, he married Lady Catherine Hamilton. She was the daughter of Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. They had thirteen children together, including six daughters and seven sons. Six of their children lived to be adults.
In 1693, John Murray helped investigate the massacre of Glencoe. This was a sad event where many people were killed. In 1695, he became the Sheriff of Perth. A sheriff is like a chief law enforcement officer for a county.
He became Secretary of State for Scotland in 1696. From 1696 to 1698, he was also the Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland. This was a very important role in the Scottish government.
When Queen Anne became queen in 1702, he became a Privy Councillor. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the Queen. In 1703, he became the Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland. This job involved looking after the Queen's special seal for official documents.
In 1703, he also inherited his father's title, becoming the 2nd Marquess of Atholl. In June 1703, he was given many new titles, including Duke of Atholl. In 1704, he became a Knight of the Thistle. This is a very special award in Scotland.
Later Political Challenges
John Murray was against the Union between Scotland and England. He did not want Scotland to fully join with England. He even thought about using force to stop it. However, this plan never happened. After the Union was voted for, he received money that was owed to him for his past work.
Later, when the Tories came to power in Britain, John Murray regained his influence. He was chosen to be a representative peer in the House of Lords in 1710. In 1712, he got his old jobs back, including High Commissioner and Keeper of the Privy Seal.
When King George I became king, John Murray lost his jobs again. Some of his sons joined the Jacobite rebellion in 1715. This was a rebellion that tried to put a different king on the throne. His oldest son, William, was involved in this. However, John Murray himself remained loyal to the King. In 1717, he even helped catch the famous outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor, though Rob Roy managed to escape.
John Murray passed away in 1724. His second son, James, became the next Duke of Atholl.
Children
John Murray had 21 children from his two marriages. His first wife was Lady Catherine Hamilton. They had thirteen children together. His second wife was Mary Ross, and they had eight children.
Some of his notable children included:
- John Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine, who died in a battle in 1709.
- William Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine, who was involved in the Jacobite rebellion.
- James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl, who took over his father's title.
- Lord George Murray, who became a general.
- General Lord John Murray.
See also
Images for kids
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The coat of arms of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl.
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The Battle of Malplaquet, where John Murray's eldest son, John, died in 1709.
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Lord George Murray, one of John Murray's sons, who died in exile.
