John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl
Encyclopedia
John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl (born 19 January 1929), known as John Murray until 1996, is a British
peer
.
Murray was born in Johannesburg
, South Africa
, the only child of Major George Murray (1884–1940), who was killed on active service in the Second World War, and Joan (married 17 January 1928), daughter of William Edward Eastwood, of South Africa. He is the grandson of Reverend Douglas Stuart Murray, Rector of Blithfield
, Staffordshire
, grandson of the Right Reverend George Murray
, son of the Right Reverend Lord George Murray
, second son of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl
. He received a BSc
degree in Engineering
from the University of the Witwatersrand
, a leading South Africa
n university
.
In 1996, aged 67, Murray succeeded his second cousin once removed as 11th Duke of Atholl. He owns the only legal private army in Europe
, the Atholl Highlanders
. The army is based at Blair Castle
, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl, every year the Duke returns to stay at Blair for the display put on by his army. He is also the hereditary Clan Chief
of Clan Murray
.
Atholl married Margaret Yvonne, only daughter of Ronald Leonard Leach, of Louis Trichardt, Transvaal, South Africa on 15 December 1956. They have three children:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Murray was born in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the only child of Major George Murray (1884–1940), who was killed on active service in the Second World War, and Joan (married 17 January 1928), daughter of William Edward Eastwood, of South Africa. He is the grandson of Reverend Douglas Stuart Murray, Rector of Blithfield
Blithfield
Blithfield is a civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It includes the settlements of Admaston, Newton, along with Blithfield Hall, home of the Bagot family since 1360. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 225. Blithfield Reservoir takes up much of...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, grandson of the Right Reverend George Murray
George Murray (bishop of Rochester)
George Murray was a British churchman, Archdeacon of Man, Dean of Worcester, Bishop of Sodor and Man and Bishop of Rochester.-Background and education:...
, son of the Right Reverend Lord George Murray
Lord George Murray (bishop)
Lord George Murray was an Anglican cleric best remembered for his work developing Britain's first optical telegraph, which began relaying messages from London to Deal in 1796, a few years after Claude Chappe's system began operation in France...
, second son of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl KT, PC , known as John Murray until 1764, was a Scottish peer and Tory politician.-Background:...
. He received a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
from the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
, a leading South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
In 1996, aged 67, Murray succeeded his second cousin once removed as 11th Duke of Atholl. He owns the only legal private army in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Atholl Highlanders
Atholl Highlanders
The Atholl Highlanders is a Scottish infantry regiment. Based in Blair Atholl, the regiment is not part of the British Army. Instead, the regiment is in the private employ of the Duke of Atholl, making it the United Kingdom's, and indeed Europe's, only legal private army.-77th Foot:The name Atholl...
. The army is based at Blair Castle
Blair Castle
Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland. It is the home of the Clan Murray family, who hold the title of Duke of Atholl, though the current Duke, John Murray, lives in South Africa....
, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl, every year the Duke returns to stay at Blair for the display put on by his army. He is also the hereditary Clan Chief
Scottish clan chief
The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a clan takes its name. The clan chief is the representative of this founder, and...
of Clan Murray
Clan Murray
Clan Murray is a Highland Scottish clan. The Murrays were a great and powerful clan whose lands and cadet houses were scattered throughout Scotland.- Origins of the Clan :...
.
Atholl married Margaret Yvonne, only daughter of Ronald Leonard Leach, of Louis Trichardt, Transvaal, South Africa on 15 December 1956. They have three children:
- Lady Jennifer Murray (born 8 February 1958) married 1979 (divorced 1985) Iain Purdon and secondly 19.. Martin Glodek and by her first husband has:
- Grant Clive Purdon (born 1981)
- Charlene Purdon (born 1983)
- Bruce George Ronald Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine (born 6 April 1960) married 1984 Lynne Elizabeth Andrew first daughter of Nicholas Andrew, of Bedfordview, South Africa and has three children:
- Michael Bruce John Murray, Earl of Strathtay (born 5 March 1985)
- Lord David Nicholas George Murray (born 31 January 1986)
- Lady Nicole Murray (born 11 July 1987) married to Peter Piek
- Lord Craig John Murray (born 1963) married 1988 Inge Bakker second daughter of Auke Bakker, of Bedfordview, South Africa and has two children:
- Carl Murray (born 1993)
- Shona Murray (born 1995)