Charlotte Murray, Duchess of Atholl
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Murray, Duchess of Atholl and 8th Baroness Strange (13 October 1731 – 13 October 1805) was a Scottish
peeress
.
Born Lady Charlotte Murray, she was the daughter of the 2nd Duke of Atholl
. On 23 October 1753, she married her first cousin, John Murray
at Dunkeld
, Scotland
. They had nine children.
On 8 January 1764, Charlotte's father died. Her husband, John, should have been heir to the dukedom, which was only able to descend through the male line; but he was ineligible since his father had fought in the Jacobite Rising
and consequently been attainted in the blood
. Charlotte, however, had succeeded to her father's title of Baron Strange
(which could descend through the female line) and consequently held a higher position in society than her husband. Thus, just less than a month later on 7 February 1764, the House of Lords
deemed John as the rightful heir to his uncle's title (notwithstanding the attainder of his father) and he succeed him as 3rd Duke of Atholl, whereupon Charlotte became Duchess of Atholl. Charlotte had also inherited the sovereignty of the Isle of Man
from her father on his death but sold it to the British
government in 1765 for £
70,000 and an annuity of £2,000 per year (£5,235,000 and £150,000 respectively, in early-2000s).
The duchess died in 1805, aged 74 at Barochey House, near Glasgow
and was buried at Dunkeld
.
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...
peeress
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...
.
Born Lady Charlotte Murray, she was the daughter of the 2nd Duke of Atholl
James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl
James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl KT PC , styled Marquess of Tullibardine between 1715 and 1746, was a Scottish peer.-Background:...
. On 23 October 1753, she married her first cousin, John Murray
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:...
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...
, 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...
. They had nine children.
Children of Charlotte Murray, Duchess of Atholl
| Name | Date of Birth | Christening Date |
|---|---|---|
| John Murray John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl KT, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Tullibardine 1764 and 1774, was a Scottish peer.-Background:... | 30 June 1755 | |
| James Murray | 5 December 1757 | 7 December 1757 |
| George Murray | 6 January 1759 | |
| George Murray | 30 January 1761 | 1 February 1761 |
| William Murray | 20 March 1762 | |
| Amelia Murray | 3 July 1763 | 10 July 1763 |
| Henry Murray | 13 June 1767 | 30 June 1767 |
| Mary Murray | 12 January 1769 | 18 January 1769 |
| Charles Murray Lord Charles Murray Very Rev. Lord Charles Murray-Aynsley was an English dean.Murray-Aynsley was the youngest of nine children of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl, and Charlotte Murray, Duchess of Atholl, and baptized as Charles Murray. On 18 June 1793 he married Alicia Mitford , daughter of George Mitford, and... | 21 April 1771 | 6 May 1771 |
On 8 January 1764, Charlotte's father died. Her husband, John, should have been heir to the dukedom, which was only able to descend through the male line; but he was ineligible since his father had fought in the Jacobite Rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
and consequently been attainted in the blood
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
. Charlotte, however, had succeeded to her father's title of Baron Strange
Baron Strange
Baron Strange is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of England. Two creations, one in 1295 and another in 1325, had only one holder each, upon the death of whom they became extinct. Two of the creations are still extant, however...
(which could descend through the female line) and consequently held a higher position in society than her husband. Thus, just less than a month later on 7 February 1764, the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
deemed John as the rightful heir to his uncle's title (notwithstanding the attainder of his father) and he succeed him as 3rd Duke of Atholl, whereupon Charlotte became Duchess of Atholl. Charlotte had also inherited the sovereignty of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
from her father on his death but sold it to the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
government in 1765 for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
70,000 and an annuity of £2,000 per year (£5,235,000 and £150,000 respectively, in early-2000s).
The duchess died in 1805, aged 74 at Barochey House, near Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and was buried 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...
.