Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl
Encyclopedia
Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl (17 June 1814–22 May 1897), born Anne Home-Drummond and known as The Lady Glenlyon between 1839 and 1846, as The Duchess of Atholl between 1846 and 1864 and as The Dowager Duchess of Atholl between 1864 and 1897, was a Scottish courtier and close friend of Queen Victoria
.
Murray was born at Edinburgh
, Scotland
, the daughter of Henry Home-Drummond
, of Blair Drummond
, by Christian, daughter of Charles Moray. On 29 October 1839 she married George Murray, 2nd Baron Glenlyon
, at Blair Drummond, thereby becoming Lady Glenlyon. In 1846 he succeeded his uncle
as seventh Duke of Atholl
, and Anne became Duchess of Atholl.
She served as Mistress of the Robes
to Queen Victoria
in Lord Derby
's short-lived government of 1852
. She subsequently served the queen as a Lady of the Bedchamber
for almost forty years and was one of Victoria's closest friends. When the Prince Consort died, the Queen came out of the room where he had died and proclaimed, "Oh, Duchess, he is dead!" The Duke of Atholl died in 1864, and Anne became the Dowager Duchess of Atholl. In 1892, when Mr Gladstone again came to power, his policy of Home Rule
for Ireland
had alienated many of the upper classes, and no lady of ducal
rank could be found who was willing to serve as Mistress of the Robes. The post therefore remained vacant, while the Dowager Duchess of Atholl and the Duchess of Roxburghe
performed the duties of the office. The duchess and her husband preferred the spelling 'Athole' for their title and residence.
The Duke and Duchess had one child, John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl
. The Duchess of Atholl died at Dunkeld
, Perthshire
, in May 1897, aged 82, and was buried at Blair Atholl.
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
Murray was born at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the daughter of Henry Home-Drummond
Henry Home-Drummond
Henry Home-Drummond was a Scottish politician.Home-Drummond was called to the Scottish Bar in 1808, and later served as Vice-Lieutenant of Perthshire...
, of Blair Drummond
Blair Drummond
Blair Drummond is a small rural community near Stirling in Scotland, predominantly located along the A84 road.-Description:...
, by Christian, daughter of Charles Moray. On 29 October 1839 she married George Murray, 2nd Baron Glenlyon
George Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl
George Augustus Frederick John Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl KT, DL was a Scottish peer and freemason....
, at Blair Drummond, thereby becoming Lady Glenlyon. In 1846 he succeeded his uncle
John Murray, 5th Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 5th Duke of Atholl was a Duke in the Peerage of Scotland, a British Army officer and a major landowner in Scotland. Declared insane at the age of twenty, he never sat in the House of Lords....
as seventh Duke of Atholl
Duke of Atholl
Duke of Atholl, alternatively Duke of Athole, named after Atholl in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland held by the head of Clan Murray...
, and Anne became Duchess of Atholl.
She served as Mistress of the Robes
Mistress of the Robes
The Mistress of the Robes is the senior lady of the British Royal Household. Formerly responsible for the Queen's clothes and jewellery, the post now has the responsibility for arranging the rota of attendance of the Ladies in Waiting on the Queen, along with various duties at State ceremonies...
to Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in Lord Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
's short-lived government of 1852
Conservative Government 1852
After the fall of Lord John Russell's Whig government in early 1852, the Tory leader Lord Derby formed a government. The Conservatives had been weakened by the defection of the Peelites, and many of the new Cabinet ministers were men of little experience. The government became known as the Who?...
. She subsequently served the queen as a Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
for almost forty years and was one of Victoria's closest friends. When the Prince Consort died, the Queen came out of the room where he had died and proclaimed, "Oh, Duchess, he is dead!" The Duke of Atholl died in 1864, and Anne became the Dowager Duchess of Atholl. In 1892, when Mr Gladstone again came to power, his policy of Home Rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
for Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
had alienated many of the upper classes, and no lady of ducal
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
rank could be found who was willing to serve as Mistress of the Robes. The post therefore remained vacant, while the Dowager Duchess of Atholl and the Duchess of Roxburghe
Anne Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe
Anne Emily Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe VA OBE was born Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill, and was the daughter of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, who served in Conservative governments as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland...
performed the duties of the office. The duchess and her husband preferred the spelling 'Athole' for their title and residence.
The Duke and Duchess had one child, John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl
John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl
John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl KT , styled Marquess of Tullibardine between 1846 and 1864, was a a Scottish peer.-Background and education:...
. The Duchess of Atholl died at Dunkeld
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is about 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam. Dunkeld and Birnam share a railway station, on the...
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, in May 1897, aged 82, and was buried at Blair Atholl.