John Murray, 5th Duke of Atholl facts for kids
John Murray, 5th Duke of Atholl (born 1778 – died 1846) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the title of Duke in the Peerage of Scotland. He was also an officer in the British Army and owned a lot of land in Scotland.
At the age of twenty, John Murray faced serious health challenges. Because of this, he never took his seat in the House of Lords. He served as the Sheriff of Perthshire from 1830 until he passed away.
Early Life and Family
John Murray was born on June 26, 1778, in Dunkeld, Perthshire. He was the second son of the 4th Duke of Atholl. His mother was Jane Cathcart.
Sadly, his older brother died when he was a child. This meant John became the next in line to inherit the family titles and lands. From that time until his father's death in 1830, he was known as the Marquess of Tullibardine.
Education and Military Service
John Murray went to school at Eton College, a famous school in England. In 1797, he joined the army as an ensign. An ensign was a junior officer. He served in the 61st Regiment of Foot.
However, in 1798, when he was just twenty years old, he was declared to have an "unsound mind." This meant he had a mental illness that affected his ability to carry out his duties.
Later Life and Legacy
The Duke never married and did not have any children. He passed away on September 14, 1846, in London, at the age of sixty-eight. He lived a very private life due to his health challenges.
After his death, his nephew, George Murray, became the 6th Duke of Atholl. George was the son of John's younger brother, James Murray, 1st Baron Glenlyon. This younger brother had managed the family's affairs for John after their father died.
