Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl

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For other people named Iain Murray, see Iain Murray (disambiguation).
His Grace
The Duke of Atholl
DL
10th Duke of Atholl 4 Allan Warren.jpg
The Duke of Atholl.
Personal details
Born 19 June 1931
Died 27 February 1996
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Unmarried
Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford

(George) Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl DL (19 June 1931 – 27 February 1996), known as Wee Iain, was a Scottish peer and landowner.

Background and education

Murray was the only surviving child of Lieutenant-Colonel George Anthony Murray (1907–1945), who was killed in action in the Second World War, and the Honourable Angela Pearson (1910-1981), daughter of Weetman Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray. He was a great-grandson of Sir George Murray, grandson of the Right Reverend George Murray, son of the Right Reverend Lord George Murray, second son of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl who in turn was eldest son of renowned Scottish Jacobite Lord George Murray. Through his American great grandfather General Daniel Frost he was a descendant of the Winthrop family and a distant cousin to Secretary of State John Kerry.

He attended both Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, before succeeding the 9th duke, his fourth cousin twice removed James Stewart-Murray, 9th Duke of Atholl, as 10th Duke of Atholl in 1957.[1] With a height of six feet, five inches, he was one of the tallest Scottish peers, leading to the whimsical name of "Wee Iain".[2]

Public life

Atholl inherited an estate of approximately 120,000 acres (496 km2)—although this was a decline from the 190,000 acres (769 km2) in the 19th century, it was still a smaller decline than many other Scottish estates. Under his stewardship, the estate in and around Blair Castle became a significant area for tourism and forestry, on which he was an acknowledged expert and spoke many times in the House of Lords, having been elected a Scottish Representative Peer in 1958.[1] In addition, he resurrected the Atholl Highlanders, the ceremonial private army of the dukedom composed of estate workers and family friends, as a tourist attraction.[2]

He was an active member of the Conservative Monday Club.[3] He also held several business appointments, notably as Chairman of BPM Holdings between 1972 and 1983 and of Westminster Press Group between 1974 and 1996 and as a director of Pearson Longman between 1975 and 1983. In 1980 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross.[1]

Personal life

Atholl died unmarried in February 1996, aged 64, with the titles passing to his second cousin once removed, John Murray, a South African land surveyor.[1] The day before the death of the 10th Duke, it was announced that he had given Blair Castle and most of his estates to a charitable trust, thus effectively disinheriting his heir. The new duke had indicated he had little interest in leaving South Africa, and though he honored the land of his origins, felt "I am a South African, not a Scotsman." [2]

Ancestry

Family of Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. George Murray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. George Murray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Penelope Austin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Evelyn Murray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. John Mulholland, 1st Baron Dunleath
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Hon. Helen Mulholland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Frances Lyle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. George Murray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Alexander Beresford-Hope
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Philip Beresford-Hope
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Lady Mildred Gascoyne-Cecil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Muriel Beresford-Hope
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Daniel Frost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Evelyn Frost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Elizabeth Brown Graham
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. George Pearson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Sarah Dickinson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Harold Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. John Cass
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Annie Cass
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Hannah Gamble
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Hon. Angela Pearson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Jane Stewart
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Beryl Spencer-Churchill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. George Warburton
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Augusta Warburton
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Hon. Elizabeth Hanbury
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

The 10th Duke outside the ducal seat, Blair Castle
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 thepeerage.com George Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Copping, Robert, The Monday Club—Crisis and After May 1975, page 25, published by the Current Affairs Information Service, Ilford, Essex, (P/B).

External links

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Duke of Atholl
1957–1996		 Succeeded by
John Murray
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