James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose
Encyclopedia
James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose, ID
(2 May 1907 – 10 February 1992) was a British
-born Rhodesia
n politician. Born in Scotland, he maintained a lifelong interest in politics and was a lover of all things Scottish. He lived in southern Africa for fifty-five years, serving as the Minister of Agriculture in Rhodesia under Ian Smith
, was a signatory to Unilateral Declaration of Independence and farmed several properties.
and Christ Church, Oxford
. He served in the Royal Navy
during the Second World War
. He was in HMS Kandahar as part of Louis Mountbatten's flotilla in the North Sea
and later served in the Mediterranean and at Aden
.
. He first went to Rhodesia
in 1930, taking up a position with A.E.&I., the South African subsidiary of ICI
. While he was on holiday in England in 1939, war with Germany was declared and he signed up with the Admiral Commanding Reserves and was appointed Lieutenant in the RNVR, joining HMS Kandahar.
In 1954 he inherited his father's titles and became Duke of Montrose
. He enjoyed hunting trips in Kenya, where he met his second wife, Susan Semple. The family grew up on Derry Farm at Nyabira outside Salisbury
, where the crops included maize and tobacco. A pedigree Brahman cattle stud was established after importing bloodstock from Texas. Although, in an article published in Illustrated Life Rhodesia
in the mid-1970s, Montrose indicated that he saw his family remaining in Rhodesia for future generations, he and his family moved to South Africa
in 1979 and then to Scotland
, where he spent his final days. Always a keen Gaelic
speaker with a great fondness for the Highlands and islands
of Scotland, he lies buried in the family cemetery near Loch Lomond
.
:
He married secondly Susan Mary Joclyn Semple of Kenya
and had issue:
His son and heir, the 8th Duke of Montrose, is currently a Conservative
government minister.
Independence Decoration (Rhodesia)
The Independence Decoration was a Rhodesian civil decoration awarded to persons who played a notable and significant part in the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965.- Institution :...
(2 May 1907 – 10 February 1992) was a British
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...
-born Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n politician. Born in Scotland, he maintained a lifelong interest in politics and was a lover of all things Scottish. He lived in southern Africa for fifty-five years, serving as the Minister of Agriculture in Rhodesia under Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
, was a signatory to Unilateral Declaration of Independence and farmed several properties.
Early life
As Marquess of Graham, the Duke was educated at EtonEton 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...
. He served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was in HMS Kandahar as part of Louis Mountbatten's flotilla in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and later served in the Mediterranean and at Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
.
Life
The Marquis of Graham completed three years at Oxford and graduated Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He first went to Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
in 1930, taking up a position with A.E.&I., the South African subsidiary of ICI
ICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
. While he was on holiday in England in 1939, war with Germany was declared and he signed up with the Admiral Commanding Reserves and was appointed Lieutenant in the RNVR, joining HMS Kandahar.
In 1954 he inherited his father's titles and became Duke of Montrose
Duke of Montrose
The title of Duke of Montrose was created twice in the peerage of Scotland, firstly in 1488 for David Lindsay, 5th Earl of Crawford. It was forfeited and then returned, but only for the period of the holder's lifetime...
. He enjoyed hunting trips in Kenya, where he met his second wife, Susan Semple. The family grew up on Derry Farm at Nyabira outside Salisbury
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, where the crops included maize and tobacco. A pedigree Brahman cattle stud was established after importing bloodstock from Texas. Although, in an article published in Illustrated Life Rhodesia
Illustrated Rhodesia Life
Illustrated Life Rhodesia was a fortnightly picture magazine published in Salisbury, Rhodesia, by the Graham Publishing Co., from at least 1968 to at least 1978. Aimed at the white settler market, it carried illustrated articles on Rhodesian history as well as on current affairs and prominent local...
in the mid-1970s, Montrose indicated that he saw his family remaining in Rhodesia for future generations, he and his family moved to 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...
in 1979 and then to 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...
, where he spent his final days. Always a keen Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
speaker with a great fondness for the Highlands and islands
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied...
of Scotland, he lies buried in the family cemetery near Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
.
Family
He was first married to Isabel Veronia Sellar and had issue, both born in Southern RhodesiaSouthern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
:
- Lady Fiona Mary Graham. Married 1966, Peter Alexander O'Brien Hannon and has issue: Catherine Mary (born 1968) and Veronica Maeve (born 1971).
- James Graham, 8th Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 8th Duke of Montrosethumb|right|200px|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose , is the only Duke who has a seat in the House of Lords as one of the 90 elected hereditary peers...
. Married 1970, Catherine Elizabeth MacDonell Young and has issue: Lady Hermione Elizabeth Graham (born 1971), James Alexander Norman Graham, Marquess of Graham (born 1973) and Lord Ronald John Christopher Graham (born 1975).
He married secondly Susan Mary Joclyn Semple of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and had issue:
- Lady Cairistiona Anne Graham, born 1955. Married 1982, Philip Patrick Saggers of AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and has issue: Susanna Mary Saggers (born 1984), Marina Lilias Saggers (born 1986) and Georgina Frances Saggers (born 1989). - Lord Donald Alasdair Graham, born 1956. Married 1981, Bridie Donalda Elspeth Cameron of the Black IsleBlack IsleThe Black Isle is an eastern area of the Highland local government council area of Scotland, within the county of Ross and Cromarty. The name nearly always includes the article "the"....
and has issue: Caitriana Mary Alice (born 1984), Alasdair John Cameron (1986–1988), Violet Elizabeth Helen (born 1992), Jennie Alexandra Cameron (born 1993) and Finlay Donald Cameron (born 1998). - Lord Calum Ian Graham, married 1991 Catherine Beatrice Fraser-Mackenzie (died 2008) and has issue: Iain Angus (born 1995), Euan Douglas (born 1996) and Christabel Emily (born 2001).
- Lady Lilias Catriona Maighearad Graham, married Jonathan Dillon Bell of WellingtonWellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and has issue: Charles Michael Dillon Bell (born 1993) and Eleanor Caroline Bell (born 1994).
His son and heir, the 8th Duke of Montrose, is currently a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government minister.
Titles from birth
- Earl of KincardineEarl of KincardineThe title Earl of Kincardine was created in 1643 in the Peerage of Scotland for Edward Bruce. The English Civil War between King Charles I and the English Parliament started in 1642...
(1907–1925) - Marquess of Graham (1925–1954)
- His Grace The Duke of MontroseDuke of MontroseThe title of Duke of Montrose was created twice in the peerage of Scotland, firstly in 1488 for David Lindsay, 5th Earl of Crawford. It was forfeited and then returned, but only for the period of the holder's lifetime...
(1954–1992)
External links
- James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose, thePeerage.com