HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl, KT (2 May 16316 May 1703) was a leading Scottish royalist and defender of the Stuarts during the
English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...
of the 1640s, until after the rise to power of
William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
and
Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
in 1689. He succeeded as 2nd
Earl of Atholl The Mormaer or Earl of Atholl was the title of the holder of a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl (''Ath Fodhla''), now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is repor ...
on his father's demise in June 1642 and as 3rd
Earl of Tullibardine Duke of Atholl, named for Atholl in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland held by the head of Clan Murray. It was created by Queen Anne in 1703 for John Murray, 2nd Marquess of Atholl, with a special remainder to the heir male of ...
after the death of his first cousin the 2nd Earl in 1670.


Early life

Murray was the son of John Murray, 1st Earl of Atholl (cr. 1629) by his wife Jane, daughter of
Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English language, English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist i ...
. In 1650 he joined in the unsuccessful attempt to liberate Charles II from the Covenanters, and he was, in 1653, a chief supporter of the 8th Earl of Glencairn's rising to power in opposition to English plans to incorporate Scotland into the Commonwealth and devoted 2,000 men to the battle. He was eventually obliged to surrender the following year to
George Monck George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...
, the victorious Commonwealth commander.


Appointments

In 1660, Murray became a privy councillor for Scotland, obtained a charter of the hereditary office of sheriff of Fife, and in 1661 became Lord Justice-General of Scotland. In 1663 he was appointed
Lord President of the Court of Session The Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General is the most senior judge in Scotland, the head of the judiciary, and the presiding judge of the College of Justice, the Court of Session, and the High Court of Justiciary. The L ...
. Murray became the first captain-general of the
Royal Company of Archers The Royal Company of Archers, The King's Bodyguard for Scotland is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's bodyguard in Scotland—a role it has performed since 1822 during the reign of King George IV when the company provided a per ...
in 1670. in 1671 he became a Commissioner of the Exchequer, the following year
Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland The office of Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland, one of the Great Officers of State, first appears in the reign of David II. After the Act of Union 1707 its holder was normally a peer, like the Keeper of the Great Seal. The office has re ...
and on 14 January 1673 became an Extraordinary Lord of Session. In 1670 he succeeded to the earldom of Tullibardine on the death of his cousin, the 4th Earl and was created
Marquess of Atholl A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
and Viscount Glenalmond on 7 February 1676. He commissioned William Bruce for a rebuild of Dunkeld House in 1676. The house had been badly damaged in 1654, during the
civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, and Bruce was given the task of building its replacement.


Glorious Revolution

Murray was initially a supporter of the robust policies of Lord Lauderdale, taking part in a 1678 raid against the Covenanters, but he then temporarily lost royal favour by counselling moderation concerning the measures taken against them. In 1679, however, he was present at the
Battle of Bothwell Bridge A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and forc ...
; in July 1680 he was made
vice-admiral of Scotland The Lord High Admiral of Scotland was one of the Great Officers of State of the Kingdom of Scotland before the Union with England in 1707. The office was one of considerable power, also known as ''Royal Scottish Admiralty'', including command ...
, and in 1681 president of parliament. In 1684 he was appointed lord-lieutenant of Argyll, fought vigorously against the 9th Earl of Argyll in
Argyll's Rising Argyll's Rising, also known as Argyll's Rebellion, was an attempt in June 1685 to overthrow James II and VII. Led by Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, the rising was intended to tie down Royal forces in Scotland while a simultaneous reb ...
of 1685 and was instrumental in defeating him. Murray was knighted in 1687. He showed himself to be lukewarm to the accession of William III and waited on the event. Finally in April 1689 he wrote to William to declare his allegiance, and in May took part in the proclamation of William and Mary as king and queen at
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
. But during
Viscount Dundee Viscount of Dundee was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created on 12 November 1688 for John Graham with remainder to him and his heirs male of his body, which failing, to his other heirs male. He was made Lord Graham of Claverhouse at ...
's insurrection he allowed his troops to be used at the
Battle of Killiecrankie The Battle of Killiecrankie ( gd, Blàr Choille Chnagaidh), also referred to as the Battle of Rinrory, took place on 27 July 1689 during the 1689 Scottish Jacobite rising. An outnumbered Jacobite force under John Graham, Viscount Dundee and ...
against the supporters of the new king, which helped bring about the defeat of the government's troops. He was then summoned to London and imprisoned during August. In 1690 he was implicated in the Montgomery plot to restore James and subsequently in further Jacobite intrigues. In June 1691 he received a pardon, and acted later for the government in the pacification of the Highlands. Ironically, given Murray's rumoured Jacobite leanings but public opposition to the group, his grandson, Lord George Murray became a famed general of the Jacobites and was responsible for their success throughout the greater part of the 1745 uprising. Murray was described by Lord Macaulay as "the falsest, the most fickle, the most pusillanimous of mankind", regarding Murray's indecisive position surrounding the succession of William of Orange and the deposition of King James."


Marriage

On 5 May 1659, Lord Atholl married Lady Amelia Ann Sophia Stanley (1633-22 February 1702/1703), daughter of
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, KG (31 January 160715 October 1651) was an English nobleman, politician, and supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. Before inheriting the title in 1642 he was known as Lord Strange. He was ...
and Charlotte de La Tremoille. They had twelve children, but four died young: *
John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl, KT, PC (24 February 166014 November 1724) was a Scottish nobleman, politician, and soldier. He served in numerous positions during his life, and fought in the Glorious Revolution for William III and Mary II ...
(24 February 166014 November 1724), eldest son and heir, married (1) Lady Katherine Douglas-Hamilton, (2) Lady Mary Ross. *
Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore (1661–1710) was a British peer, previously Lord Charles Murray. The second son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl, he rose to become a general in the British Army and was created Earl of Dunmore, Lord M ...
(24 February 166119 April 1710), married Catherine Watts. * Lord James Murray (8 May 166330 December 1719), married Anne Murray of Glenmuir. *
William Murray, 2nd Lord Nairne William Murray, 2nd Lord Nairne (''c.'' 1665 – 3 February 1726) was a Scottish peer and Jacobite who fought in the Rising of 1715, after which he was attainted and condemned to death for treason, but in 1717 he was indemnified and released. ...
(1664-3 February 1726), married Margaret Nairne. Their daughter Margaret Murray (died 28 May 1773) married in 1712 William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan. *Lady Charlotte Murray (1663–1735), married Thomas Cooper. No issue. *Lady Amelia Murray (1666–1743), married 1. Hugh Fraser, 9th Lord Lovat; 2. Simon Fraser of Beaufort. *Lady Jane Murray (1666–1670), died young. *Sir Mungo Murray, Bt. (1668–1700), Scotland; Killed in Panama 1700, fighting the Spanish. Married Rachel Beaverich; son David married Margaret Donald; two daughters.Atholl Chronicles; Col.George Murray letter dated March 1699 concerning marriage negotiations between the Murray of Atholl family, and the father of Margaret Campbell, daughter of Lord Cessnock. Also see Christies Art Auction: Portrait of Lord Mungo Murray,viewed at christies.com -portrait by John M. Wright: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/john-michael-wright-a-highland-chieftain-portrait-1820608-details.aspx?intObjectID=1820608 Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561–1910, FHL Film # 1040174 22 Feb 1695, St. Andrews And St. Leonards,Fife,Scotland shows marriage to Rachell Beavrich. Possibility of 2 children, 1 male, David, and 1 female, Catherine. *Lord Edward Murray (1669–1743), married Katherine Skene. *Lord Henry Murray (born 1670), died young. *Lady Katherine Murray (1672–1689), died young. *Lord George Murray (1673–1691), died young. Prior to his marriage with Amelia Sophia Stanley one "natural son" was born c. 1658 to Janett Mannachie from Dunkeld Perthshire. This son's name is unknown; however he is stated to have been apprenticed to an Edinburgh Lawyer (Writer) by the name of Louefoote (Lightfoot?). According to correspondence from the above-mentioned Lord Edward Murray born 1669 and reproduced in the Atholl Chronicles-dated 25 March 1735 addressed to his nephew John 1st Duke of Athol, this son died of smallpox c. 1680–90. The same source records: Jane Murray born 1676 c- twin, & Male Murray- born 1676c- twin born Castle Tullibardine Perthshire and lived in France. (Mother was: Ms Richards a "companion" of Amelia Sophia Stanley) m. 1. Captain Anderson (Navy); m. 2. Mr Ongolling; m3. James Mazel. Also possibly: *William Murray c. 1658–1725, remained in Scotland and married Mary Vans; son William Vans Murray died 1763 in Maryland.


See also

*
Cromwell's Act of Grace Cromwell's Act of Grace, or more formally the Act of Pardon and Grace to the People of Scotland, was an Act of the Parliament of England that declared that the people of Scotland (with certain exceptions) were pardoned for any crimes they migh ...


Notes


References

* Brown, Peter, publisher, ''The Peerage of Scotland'', Edinburgh, 1834, pps:62-64. * *
Article on Clan Murray history
Tartans.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Atholl, John Murray, 1st Marquess of 1631 births 1703 deaths British Life Guards officers Knights of the Thistle Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Lords Justice-General Cavaliers Scottish soldiers Members of the Privy Council of Scotland
John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...
Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1689 Commissioners of the Treasury of Scotland Members of the Royal Company of Archers Extraordinary Lords of Session Marquesses of Atholl 17th-century Scottish peers