George Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl
Encyclopedia
George Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl DL
(19 June 1931 – 27 February 1996), known as Wee Iain, was a Scottish peer and landowner.
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, 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
. He attended both Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
, before succeeding the 9th duke, his fourth cousin twice removed, as Duke of Atholl
in 1957.
He inherited an estate of approximately 120,000 acre
s (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 forestry
, on which he was an acknowledged expert and spoke many times in the House of Lords
, and tourism
, having been elected a Scottish Representative Peer
in 1958. In addition, he resurrected the Atholl Highlanders
, the ceremonial private army of the dukedom. He was an active member of the Conservative Monday Club
. He also held several business appintments, 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
.
Atholl died unmarried in February 1996, aged 64, with the titles passing to his second cousin once removed, John Murray
.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(19 June 1931 – 27 February 1996), known as Wee Iain, was a Scottish peer and landowner.
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, daughter of Weetman Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray
Weetman Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray
Harold Miller Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray DL , styled The Honourable Harold Pearson between 1910 and 1927, was a British peer Liberal Party politician.-Background:...
. He was a great-grandson of Sir George Murray
George Murray (civil servant)
Sir George Herbert Murray GCB GCVO ISO PC was a British civil servant.Murray was born in Southfleet, Kent, England, the son of the village's rector. He was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered the Foreign Office in 1873 and transferred to HM Treasury in 1880...
, 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, 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 attended both Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, before succeeding the 9th duke, his fourth cousin twice removed, as 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...
in 1957.
He inherited an estate of approximately 120,000 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s (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
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....
became a significant area for forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
, on which he was an acknowledged expert and spoke many times in 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....
, and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, having been elected a Scottish Representative Peer
Representative peer
In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords...
in 1958. In addition, he resurrected 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 ceremonial private army of the dukedom. He was an active member of the Conservative Monday Club
Conservative Monday Club
The Conservative Monday Club is a British pressure group "on the right-wing" of the Conservative Party.-Overview:...
. He also held several business appintments, 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
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross is one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas. Perth is the administrative centre...
.
Atholl died unmarried in February 1996, aged 64, with the titles passing to his second cousin once removed, John Murray
John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl , known as John Murray until 1996, is a British peer.Murray was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the only child of Major George Murray , who was killed on active service in the Second World War, and Joan , daughter of William Edward Eastwood, of South Africa...
.