John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl facts for kids
John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl (born 6 May 1729 – died 5 November 1774), was an important Scottish nobleman and politician. He was known as John Murray until 1764. He held the title of Duke of Atholl, which is a high rank in the Scottish nobility. He was also a member of the Tory political group.
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Early Life and Family Connections
John Murray was born on 6 May 1729. He was the oldest son of Lord George Murray. His grandfather was John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl. John had two younger brothers, James Murray and George Murray.
Political Career and Titles
John Murray started his career in the military. He was a captain in a regiment of foot soldiers. Later, he became a Member of Parliament for Perthshire from 1761 to 1764.
Becoming the 3rd Duke of Atholl
On 8 January 1764, John's uncle, the 2nd Duke of Atholl, passed away. John was the rightful heir to the dukedom. However, his father had been involved in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Because of this, his father had lost certain rights, which could have stopped John from inheriting the title.
But on 7 February 1764, the House of Lords (a part of the British Parliament) decided that John Murray was indeed the correct heir. He then became the 3rd Duke of Atholl. In 1766, he was chosen to be a Scottish Representative Peer. This meant he represented Scotland's nobility in the House of Lords. He was re-elected as a representative peer in 1768. In 1767, he received a special honor called the Order of the Thistle.
The Isle of Man Agreement
John Murray's wife, Lady Charlotte, inherited rights over the Isle of Man when her father (the 2nd Duke) died. These rights included the "suzerainty," which meant a kind of ruling power over the island.
The British government wanted to take back these ruling rights. So, they started talks with the Duke and Duchess of Atholl. In 1765, a law called the Isle of Man Purchase Act 1765 was passed. This law made an agreement official. The government bought the ruling rights of the Isle of Man from the Duke and Duchess for £70,000.
Even after this sale, the Duke and Duchess kept some rights. They still owned land, had control over church appointments, and kept rights to fishing and minerals. This agreement made them quite unpopular with the people on the Isle of Man. Soldiers had to be sent to the island to keep order. The money they received was used to buy land in Scotland. They also received an extra £2,000 each year for the rest of their lives.
Leadership in Freemasonry
The Duke of Atholl was also a leader in Freemasonry. He served as the Grand Master of the Ancient Grand Lodge of England from 1771 to 1774. He was also the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1773 to 1774.
Later Life and Family
John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl, passed away on 5 November 1774, at the age of 45. He was buried in Dunkeld.
Marriage and Children
Duke John Atholl married his first cousin, Lady Charlotte, on 23 October 1753, in Dunkeld. They had nine children together:
- Lady Charlotte Murray (1754–1808)
- John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl (1755–1830) - He became the next Duke.
- The Right Reverend Lord George Murray (1761–1803)
- Lord William Murray (1762–1796)
- Lady Amelia Murray (1763–1818)
- Lady Jane Murray (1764–1846)
- Lord Henry Murray (1767–1805)
- Lady Mary Murray (1769–1814)
- The Very Reverend Lord Charles Murray-Aynsley (1771–1808)
