Atholl, or AthFotla, was one of the seven original Pictish kingdoms, and is geographically situated in northern Perthshire. Its name is derived from the Irish Gaelic goddess Fotla. It basically means “new Ireland” and so we must presume that it had come under the control of the Scots of Dalriada from a very early time. The mormaerdom survived the turmoil of the unification of Picts and Scots, and naturally converted to an earldom in due course, the ruling family regularly supplying High Kings of Scotland. As expected, the list of early holders is sketchy. The first mentioned is Dubdon, in the 960s, during the reign of King Dubh, and he is said to have been killed in battle against Dubh, probably a supporter of Dubh’s rival (and eventual successor) Cuilen. A later holder was Crinan of Dunkeld, who was married to Bethoc, daughter of King Malcolm II. Crinan’s son Donnchad, or Duncan, inherited the throne under the mechanism of tanistry, whereby successors were elected by their predecessors while they were still alive. The third name associated is Mael Muire, who was a younger son of King Duncan and younger brother of both King Malcolm III and King Donald Bane, and who died c.1135. He was probably handed the mormaerdom as compensation for not becoming King himself.

Earls of Atholl (c.1115)

1^st Earl of Atholl, Madach, b.b.1115, a.c.1135, d.1142-1151-1161?

Son of Mael Muire, and the first hereditary holder. He married Margaret, daughter of Haakon Paulsson, grandson of Thorfinn the Mighty, and their first son Harold Maddadson, succeeded to the earldom of Orkney. His name varies as Madoch, Maddoc, Matad, etc. though it was as Maddad that he is known in the Orkneyinga Saga.

2^nd Earl of Atholl, Mael Coluim, b.b.1133, a.c.1150, d.1186-1198?

Son (or perhaps grandson?) of Madach, he married the daughter of an English baron. His name is anglicised as Malcolm. He appears to have been a great benefactor of religious orders, and was a close ally of King William I.

3^rd Earl of Atholl, Henry, b.?, a.c.1190, d.1210-1211

Son of Mael Coluim and Hextilda, daughter of Uchtred Fitzwaldeve, or Waltheofsson, of Tynedale. He was named after the English King Henry II. He had no male children but both his daughters succeeded him.

4^th Earl (Countess) of Atholl, Isabella, b.b.1195, a.c.1211, d.c.1237

Older daughter of Henry. She married Thomas of Galloway (b.?, d.132), brother of Alan, Lord of Galloway, who became earl de uxoris. After the death of Thomas, Alan Durward (b.?, d.1275), a descendant of Gille Crist, Mormaer of Mar and also a maternal grandson of Mael Coluim, Earl of Atholl, mentioned above, took to referring to himself as Earl of Atholl as part of an attempt to wrest control of that province, but his challenge failed to oust the heir.

5^th Earl of Atholl, Padraig, b.b.1195, a.c.1237, d.1242

Son of Isabella. He was murdered by the loser in a jousting tournament, and the earldom reverted to his aunt.

6^th Earl (Countess) of Atholl, Fernelith, b.a.1195, a.1242, d.c.1250

Younger daughter of Henry. Her name can be found also as Forbhlaith, Forflissa, Ferelith, Forlueth. She inherited the title on the death of her nephew. She married David de Hastings, a Norman who had lands in Angus.

7^th Earl (Countess) of Atholl, Ada Hastings, b.?, a.c.1250, d.c.1266

Daughter of Fernelith and David de Hastings.

8^th Earl of Atholl, David of Strathbogie, b.b.1250, a.c.1266, d.1270

Son of Ada and John of Strathbogie, a grandson of Duncan Macduff, 3^rd Earl of Fife, the first in a new line of earls. He died in Carthage while on taking part in the 8^th Crusade with Louis IX of France.

9^th Earl of Atholl, John of Strathbogie, b.b.1270, a.1270, d.1306

Son of the 8^th Earl and Isabel of Chilham, daughter of Maud, Countess of Angus and Richard de Dover. He was one of the nobles who supported Margaret, Maid of Norway, in 1284, and was captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 and held prisoner in the Tower of London, though he was set free on condition that he paid homage to King Edward I of England. However, in 1306 he took part in the coronation of Bruce and was stripped of the English possessions he had inherited from his mother. His earldom was handed to Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester, by Edward I, but this is not usually counted as a valid holding of the title. During the English invasion that year, Strathbogie was captured at the Battle of Methven and hanged in London. His daughter Isabella married Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick and brother of King Robert.

10^th Earl of Atholl, David of Strathbogie, b.b.1294, a.1307, d.1326

Son of the 9^th Earl and Margaret, daughter of Donald, 6^th Earl of Mar. The earldom was restored by Edward II after the 9^th earl’s death on payment of a large sum of money to de Monthermer. He held the office of High Constable of Scotland in 1312, but later rebelled against King Robert I and his lands and titles were forfeit. He fled to England, where he was created 1^st Lord Strathbogie and given three manors in compensation for the loss of his earldom. He was also granted the barony of Chilham which had previously belonged to his father.

11^th Earl of Atholl, David of Strathbogie, b.1308-1309, a.1326, d.1335

Son of the 10^th Earl and Joan Comyn, daughter of John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, Bruce’s rival. He attended the English parliament as Lord Strathbogie, and received estates in Ireland which had belonged to his maternal grandfather, Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke. He accompanied Edward Balliol into Scotland in 1332 and was present at the Battle of Dupplin Moor, after which he was restored to his Scottish titles, but was briefly in rebellion against Edward III before being pardoned soon after. He died fighting for Balliol at the Battle of Culblean (or Kilblane) against Andrew Moray, Guardian of Scotland.

12^th Earl of Atholl, David of Strathbogie, b.c.1332, a.1335, d.1369

Son of the 11^th Earl and Catherine Beaumont, daughter of Sir Henry Beaumont, Lord Beaumont and erstwhile Earl of Buchan. He left two daughters and any claim to the earldom died with him.

The last two above were only ever considered Earls of Atholl in England.

Earls of Atholl (1320)

1^st Earl of Atholl, John Campbell, b.1313, a.1320, d.1333

Son of Sir Neil Campbell (b.b.1270, d.c.1316) of Lochow and Lady Mary Bruce, youngest sister of King Robert I. He inherited the dispossessed lands of the earls of Atholl in 1316 and was later created earl himself. He was one of many who died at the Battle of Halidon Hill, after which Berwick was lost permanently to Scotland. He married Jean de Monteith, a grand-daughter of Mary, Countess of Menteith, but they had no children and the title became extinct.

Earls of Atholl (1341)

1^st Earl of Atholl, William Douglas, b.b.1326, a.1341, d.1353

William Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale, the Flower of Chivalry, a distant relation of the Lords of Douglas, was one of the principal military figures during the Second War of Independence. After the defeat of Halidon Hill, the last of the old guard who had succeeded in retaining Scotland’s independence during the previous generation had succumbed to death on the battlefield, and Scotland was in dire need of new blood. Coming to prominence at just the right time, Douglas, along with John Randolph, 3^rd Earl of Moray, Robert Stewart, the High Steward, and Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, kept the resistance to the English going, using much the same guerrilla tactics that the Good Sir James Douglas had used years earlier, and gradually ejected them, stronghold by stronghold, until it was safe enough for the exiled King David II to return. He was created 1^st Earl of Atholl in 1341, but resigned the title shortly after its creation in favour of the Stewart heir. In 1346, David felt strong enough to take the war to the English, while most of the English Army were fighting in France, and he led an army of 20,000 deep into England, sharing the lead with Moray and Douglas. However they met an experienced English force led by Sir Ralph Neville, and were outmanoeuvred on open ground at Neville’s Cross, Douglas and the King both taken prisoner. They were subsequently freed on payment of a large ransom and Douglas was persuaded to act for English interests. His influence waning, he was later murdered by his kinsman, also William Douglas, Lord of Douglas and later 1^st Earl of Douglas, probably more to do with family power struggles than affairs of state.

Earls of Atholl (1342)

1^st Earl of Atholl, Robert Stewart, b. 1316, a.1342, d.1390

Son of Walter Stewart, 6^th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland (b.1292, d.1327), and Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert I. He succeeded to the title of 7^th High Steward on the death of his father, fought at Halidon Hill and Neville’s Cross, and held the office of Regent & Guardian of Scotland from 1334 to 1335, where the role was taken by Andrew Murray, and from 1338 to 1341, when David II returned from exile in France. He received this earldom on standing down from that position. After the Battle of Neville’s Cross, he once again became Guardian, refusing various English demands during negotiations for the King’s release, which was finally achieved in 1367. Since David had no children, Stewart, having been the heir-male for decades, finally became King Robert II of Scotland in 1371. From this time he consolidated Stewart influence, moving his sons into positions of power in vacated earldoms. The rest of his reign is noted for its stability, marred only slightly by dynastic struggles within the Stewart family.

Earls of Atholl (1398)

1^st Earl of Atholl, David Stewart, b.1378, a.1398, d.1402

Son of King Robert III of Scotland and Queen Consort Annabel Drummond (b.c.1350, d.1401). He was heir to the throne between 1390 until his death, and was also created 1^st Duke of Rothesay in 1398, the first dukedom created in the Scottish Peerage. As his father was a sick man, the practical control of Scotland was contested between David and his uncle, Robert Stewart, 1^st Duke of Albany. David’s naivety, coupled with his high-handed behaviour, made him unpopular and left him open to making several major errors of judgement. This gave Albany an excuse to have him arrested and imprisoned in Falkland Palace, where eventually died, probably starved to death due to lack of concern on the part of his gaolers.

Earls of Atholl (1403)

1^st Earl of Atholl, Robert Stewart, b.c.1340, a.1403, d.1420

One of the many legitimised sons of King Robert II and Elizabeth Mure, Robert Stewart held the post of Regent to three different monarchs, David II, Robert III and James I. He received several earldoms during his life, which had passed back to the royal family due to marriage, forfeiture or extinction, such as Menteith, Fife and Buchan, as well as Atholl, and was made 1^st Duke of Albany in 1398. When the heir to the throne, David Stewart, became a political rival, Albany had him imprisoned in Falkland Palace, where he died in questionable circumstances. He then seized David’s earldom, though he surrendered this shortly afterwards on the death of Robert III.

Earls of Atholl (1404)

1^st Earl of Atholl, Walter Stewart, b.c.1360, a.1404, d.1437

Son of King Robert II and Eupheme de Ross (b.b.1334, d.1387), daughter of Hugh de Ross, 4^th Earl of Ross (she was later also married to John Randolph, 3^rd Earl of Moray), and so half-brother to King Robert III. Shortly before being made 1^st Earl of Atholl he had obtained the earldom of Caithness from his niece Euphemia Stewart, who was also Countess of Strathearn. Walter aided in retrieving his nephew James I from English custody in 1424, and was made Great Justiciar of Scotland. However, at some point he turned against the King, believing he had a better right to the throne though legitimacy and joined his own grandson Robert Stewart in a conspiracy which led to the King’s assassination in 1437. However, looked-for support failed to appear and the conspirators were quickly rounded up. He was immediately attainted and put to death with extreme savagery after having been tortured for three days.

Earls of Atholl (1457)

1^st Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, b.c.1440, a.1457, d.1512

Son of Sir James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn (b.b.1421, d.c.1448), from a branch of the Stewart family descended from Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl, younger brother of Alexander Stewart, 4^th High Steward, and Lady Joan Beaufort (b.b.1407, d.1445), daughter of Sir John de Beaufort, 1^st Earl of Somerset, she being the widow of King James I. He had a hand in suppressing the rebellion of John Macdonald, 11^th Earl of Ross and last Lord of the Isles, and also served as Ambassador to Court in England. He was married twice, firstly to Margaret Douglas, Maid of Galloway (who herself had been married to both the 8^th and 9^th Earls of Douglas), and secondly to Eleanor Sinclair (b.b.1459, d.1518-1519), daughter of William Sinclair, 1^st Earl of Caithness.

2^nd Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, b.a.1475, a.1512, d.1521

Son of the 1^st Earl and Eleanor Sinclair. Little is known about him apart from the fact that he fought at Flodden, where some histories consider him to have been killed.

3^rd Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, b.1507, a.1521, d.1542

Son of the 2^nd Earl and Lady Janet Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2^nd Earl of Argyll. Again, he seems not to have been involved in the politics of the time

4^th Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, b.1533-1542, a.1542, d.1579

Son of the 3^rd Earl and Grizel Rattray, daughter of Sir John Rattray of that Ilk. He was one of only three nobles who voted against the Reformation, declaring his allegiance to Roman Catholicism. When Mary arrived from France in 1561, he was made a Privy Counsellor, and supported her marriage to Darnley. However, after the murder of Rizzio, he moved against Mary, and attended the coronation of James VI, though he did not take to the field at the Battle of Langside. This left room for him to return to her side, and was he party to the letter of intercession sent to Elizabeth I of England in support of Mary’s claim. In 1578, he and Colin Campbell, 6^th Earl of Argyll, succeeded in removing James Douglas, 4^th Earl of Morton, the then Regent, from office. When James VI dissolved the Regency, Atholl was installed as Lord Chancellor. Morton then managed to obtain guardianship of James by force, and it was only a late compromise between the three earls that halted armed conflict. Atholl died suddenly the following year, with the suspicion of poisoning having taken place.

5^th Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, b.1563, a.1579, d.1595

Son of the 4^th Earl and Margaret Fleming (b.b.1532, d.1584), daughter of Malcolm Fleming, 3^rd Lord Fleming (for whom see the earls of Wigton). (She had previously been married to Robert Graham, Master of Montrose and was mother to John Graham, 3^rd Earl of Montrose). He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1590. He married Lady Mary Ruthven, daughter of William Ruthven, 1^st Earl of Gowrie, and had five daughters. According to the charter of the earldom, the title reverted to the crown in his death.

Lords Innermeath (1469)

1^st Lord Innermeath, Walter Stewart, b.?, a.1469, d.c.1489

He was the son of Sir Robert Stewart, 1^st Lord Lorn (b.?, d.1449), older brother of the Black Knight of Lorn and so another descendant of Alexander Stewart, 4^th High Steward. He initially succeeded as 3^rd Lord Lorn on the death of his brother, however he abdicated this title to become 1^st Lord Innermeath.

2^nd Lord Innermeath, Thomas Stewart, b.?, a.?, d.1513

Son of the 1^st Lord and Margaret Lindsay, daughter of John Lindsay, 1^st Lord Lindsay of the Byres. He died at Flodden.

3^rd Lord Innermeath, Richard Stewart, b.?, a.1513, d.1528

Son of the 2^nd Lord and Janet Keith, daughter of Sir William Keith, 1^st Earl Marischal.

4^th Lord Innermeath, John Stewart, b.?, a.1528, d.1569-1570

Son of the 3^rd Lord and Margaret Lindsay, daughter of John Lindsay, 3^rd Lord Lindsay of the Byres.

5^th Lord Innermeath, James Stewart, b.1537-1539, a.1569-1570, d.1585-1586

Son of the 4^th Lord and Elizabeth Bethune, daughter of Sir John Bethune of Creich.

6^th Lord Innermeath, John Stewart, b.c.1566, a.1585-1586, d.1603

Son of the 5^th Lord and Helen Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy, 4^th Lord Ogilvie of Airlie. He married Mary Ruthven, widow of the 5^th Earl of Atholl and was created 1^st Earl of Atholl of a new line in 1596.

Earls of Atholl (1596)

1^st Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, b.c.1566, a.1596, d.1603

Although married to the widow of the previous earl, his successor was his son by his first wife.

2^nd Earl of Atholl, James Stewart, b.1583, a.1603, d.1625

Son of the 1^st Earl and his first wife Lady Margaret Lindsay, daughter of David Lindsay, 9^th Earl of Crawford. He married Mary Stewart, one of the 5^th Earl of Atholl’s daughters. On his death, the earldom became extinct once again.

Earls of Atholl (1629)

1^st Earl of Atholl, John Murray, b.c.1610, a.1629, d.1642

Son of William Murray, 2^nd Earl of Tullibardine and Dorothea Stewart (b.1594, d.1628), another of the 5^th Earl of Atholl’s daughters. He was a supporter of the King during the Civil War and was taken prisoner by the Duke of Argyll in 1640.

2^nd Earl of Atholl, John Murray, b.1631, a.1642, d.1703

Son of the 1^st Earl and Jean Campbell, daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell, 1^st Baronet Campbell of Glenorchy. In 1653 he raised levies for the Earl of Glencairn’s uprising in support of the King and in opposition to the English Parliamentarians, but was obliged to surrender to General Monck. However, after the Restoration he became a Privy Counsellor, and held a number of high posts, including Keeper of the Privy Seal and Lord President of the Court of Session. In 1670, he succeeded to the earldom of Tullibardine on the death of his cousin and was the first Captain-General of the Royal Company of Archers. In 1676 he was made 1^st Marquess of Atholl, 1^st Earl of Tullibardine (again!), 1^st Viscount of Balquidder and 1^st Lord Murray, Balvany and Gask. He fought against the Earl of Argyll’s invasion during the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685.

Marquesses of Atholl (1676)

1^st Marquess of Atholl, John Murray, a.1676, d.1703

2^nd Marquess of Atholl, John Murray, b.1659-1660, a.1676, d.1724

Son of the 1^st Marquess and Lady Amelia Anne Sophia Stanley (b.?, d.1702-1703), daughter of Sir James Stanley, 7^th Earl of Derby. A supporter of William & Mary, he had to lay siege to his own ancestral home of Blair Castle after it had been held by factions of the Stewart clan who remained loyal to King James VII. In 1696 he became Secretary of State, and Lord High Commissioner, and was made a life peer with a number of distinct titles, including another separate instance of 1^st Earl of Tullibardine (which became extinct after his death, leaving two more ancient versions of the title), 1^st Viscount Glenalmond and 1^st Lord Murray. In 1702, on the accession of Queen Anne, he became a Privy Counsellor, and then Lord Privy Seal. Shortly after succeeding to his father’s titles, he was created 1^st Duke of Atholl, 1^st Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle, 1^st Marquess of Tillibardin, 1^st Viscount of Balquidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon and 1^st Lord Murray, Balvenie and Gask, and made a Knight of the Thistle.

Dukes of Atholl (1703)

1^st Duke of Atholl, John Murray, b.1659-1660, a.1703, d.1724

In 1704, his reputation was damaged by being implicated in a Jacobite plot fomented by Simon Fraser (later 11^th Lord Lovat), although he was entirely innocent, and he was deprived of his offices. He then positioned himself as an opponent of the Hanoverian succession and the Union of Crowns. With a change in government from Whig to Tory in 1710, he returned to favour and became a Representative Peer, and in 1712 his previous responsibilities as High Commissoner and Keeper of the Privy Seal were restored. When George I came to power, Atholl was once again dismissed from office, but although several of his sons joined the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 and were attainted, he remained loyal to the government. He was also Lord-Lieutenant of Perthshire from 1715 to 1724. When he died, the dukedom was temporarily forfeit due to the attainder of his eldest surviving son William Murray (b.1689, d.1746), who was created 1^st Duke of Rannoch, 1^st Marquess of Blair, 1^st Viscount Glenshie, 1^st Earl of Glen Tilt and 1^st Lord Strathbran in the Jacobite Peerage. William fought at Culloden, surrendered to the Crown and was executed at the Tower of London.

2^nd Duke of Atholl, James Murray, b.1690, a.1746, d.1764

Son of the 1^st Duke and Lady Catherine Hamilton (b.1662, d.1707), daughter of Sir William Douglas-Hamilton, 1^st Earl of Selkirk. He served in the Grenadier Guards and reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and served as a Whig MP for Perthshire from 1715 to 1724. In 1733 he obtained an Act of Parliament indicating that the attainder applied to his older brother William Murray did not pass to other heirs-male of the 1^st Duke, and so, on his brother’s death, he succeeded to his father’s titles. From 1733 he was a Representative Peer and was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1734. In 1736, with the death of James Stanley, 10^th Earl of Derby, he succeeded as 7^th Baron Strange (in the Peerage of England), which title included the hereditary position of Lord of Mann, which gave him the responsibility as Governor the Isle of Man. Unfortunately, his own male children died before him. The dukedom and its related titles passed to his nephew, the heir-male, while the barony passed to his daughter Charlotte Murray, who later married the 3^rd Duke.

3^rd Duke of Atholl, John Murray, b.1729, a.1764, d.1774

Grandson of the 1^st Duke, and son of Lieutenant-General George Murray (b.1694, d.1760), younger brother of the 2^nd Duke, and Amelia Murray (b.c.1710, d.1766). He was deemed by the House of Lords as the rightful heir to his uncle, even though his father had been attainted. He was a Tory MP for Perthshire from 1761 to 1764 and a Representative Peer from 1766 to 1774. He became a Knight of the Thistle in 1767 and was also Grand Master of the Freemasons in both Scotland (from 1773) and England (from 1771).

4^th Duke of Atholl, John Murray, b.1755, a.1774, d.1830

Son of the 3^rd Duke and Lady Charlotte Murray, Baroness Strange (b.1731, d.1805), daughter of the 2^nd Duke of Atholl. He was Grand Master of the Freemasons, both in Scotland and England. In 1780 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was a Representative Peer from 1780 to 1786 before being created 1^st Earl Strange and 1^st Baron Murray of Stanley, Gloucester, in the Peerage of Great Britain. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1797 and a Knight of the Thistle in 1800, and was Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the Isle of Man, where his family had had interests for some time, his mother having sold the Sovereignty of the island in 1765. He also raised the Atholl Highlanders as the 77^th Regiment of Foot in 1777 (though this was disbanded due to mutiny in 1783) and was Lord-Lieutenant of Perthshire from 1794 to 1830.

5^th Duke of Atholl, John Murray, b.1778, a.1830, d.1846

Son of the 4^th Duke and Jane Cathcart (b.1754, d.1790), daughter of Lt-Gen Sir Charles Schaw Cathcart, 9^th Lord Cathcart. He was educated at Eton before joining the 61^st Foot (South Gloucestershire) Regiment. He was declared incompetent in 1798 and died unmarried, childless and insane, his titles passing to his nephew.

Lords Glenlyon (1821)

1^st Lord Glenlyon, James Murray, b.1782, a.1821, d.1837

Younger brother of the 5^th Duke of Atholl. He joined the British Army and reached the rank of Major-General in 1809. He was MP for Perthshire from 1807 to 1812 and was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber from 1812 to 1832. From 1813 to 1819 he was also Aide-de-Camp to the Prince Regent, later George IV. He was invested as a Knight Commander of the Hanoverian Order (KCH) in 1820 and created 1^st Baron Glenlyon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1821. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1837, shortly before his death.

2^nd Lord Glenlyon, George Augustus Frederick John Murray, b.1814, a.1837, d.1864

Son of the 1^st Lord and Lady Emily Frances Percy (b.1789, d.1844), daughter of General Hugh Percy, 2^nd Duke of Northumberland. Born in London, he served as a lieutenant in the 2^nd Dragoon Guards until 1840 and created the Atholl Highlanders as his personal bodyguard in 1839. Queen Victoria stayed at Blair Castle in 1844 and the Atholl Highlanders provided her guard. In return, she presented them with colours, raising them to the status of a regiment, though they remain distinct from the British Army. In 1846 he succeeded his uncle as 6^th Duke of Atholl.

Dukes of Atholl (1703, continued)

6^th Duke of Atholl, George Augustus Frederick John Murray, b.1814, a.1846, d.1864

He was Grand Master of the Freemasons in Scotland from 1843 to 1864 and was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1853.

7^th Duke of Atholl, John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray, b.1840, a.1864, d.1917

Son of the 6^th Duke and Anne Home-Drummond (b.1814, d.1897). Educated at Eton, he served in the Scots Fusiliers and achieved the rank of Captain in 1864. He succeeded to the title of 6^th Lord Percy in the Peerage of the Great Britain in 1865 and was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1868, eventually becoming Chancellor of that Order in 1913. He was also Lord-Lieutenant of Perthshire from 1878 until his death.

8^th Duke of Atholl, John George Stewart-Murray, b.1871, a.1917, d.1942

Son of the 7^th Duke and Louisa Moncrieffe (b.1844, d.1902), daughter of Sir Thomas Moncrieffe of that Ilk, 7^th Baronet Moncreiffe of Moncrieffe. He served in the Royal Horse Guards under Kitchener in the Sudan and fought at the Battle of Khartoum. In 1898 he received a DSO and in 1899 was raised to the rank of Captain. In 1900 he was asked by Kitchener to raise a regiment of Scots to fight in the Boer War, which became the Scottish Horse, and a second regiment was raised shortly afterwards with the help of his father back in Scotland, with Murray in overall command. By 1903 the Scottish Horse had become a brigade and Murray was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He was later Honorary Colonel of the Scottish Horse from 1920 to his death. He was a Grand Master of the Freemasons in Scotland from 1908 to 1913, and also served as a Conservative MP for West Perthshire from 1910 to 1917. During the First World War he commanded a brigade of Yeomanry regiments and was mentioned in dispatches. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1918, and served as Lord High Commissioner to ther General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1918 to 1920. In 1921 he was made a Privy Counsellor and awarded as a Companion of the Bath and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). He was Aide-de-Camp for George V between 1920 and 1931 and was also briefly Lord Chamberlain from 1921 to 1922. In 1928 he was granted the freedom of Edinburgh. During the Second World War he joined the Home Guard. Although he married Katharine Marjory Ramsay (b.1874, d.1960), daughter of Sir James Henry Ramsay, 10^th Baronet Ramsay of Bamff (sic), he had no children.

9^th Duke of Atholl, James Thomas Stewart-Murray, b.1879, a.1942, d.1957

Younger brother of the 8^th Duke. He fought in both the Boer War, reaching the rank of Major in the Cameron Highlanders, and also in the First World War, during which he spent time as a Prisoner of War. He did not marry and also died childless, and the Earldom and Barony of Strange becoming extinct at his death, as did the British & UK baronies.

10^th Duke of Atholl, George Iain Murray, b.1931, a.1957, d.1996

After the deaths of the 8^th and 9^th Dukes, the heir-male was a distant relation descending from the Right Reverend Lord George Murray (b.1761, d.1803), a younger brother of the 4^th Duke. He married Anne Charlotte Grant (b.1765, d.1844), a grand-daughter of Sir James Grant, 6^th Baronet Colquhoun of Luss (for whom see the earls of Seafield). Their son, the Right Reverend George Murray (b.1784, d.1860), married Lady Sarah Maria Hay-Drummond (b.?, d.1874), daughter of Robert Auriol Hay-Drummond, 10^th Earl of Kinnoull. Their son, the Reverend George Edward Murray (b.1818, d.1854), married Penelope Frances Elizabeth Pemberton Austin (b.?, d.1910). Their son, the Right Honourable Sir George Herbert Murray (b.1849, d.1936) married Helen Mary Mulholland (b.?, d.1932), daughter of John Mulholland, 1^st Baron Dunleath. Their son, Sir George Evelyn Pemberton Murray (b.1880, d.1947), married Muriel Mildred Elizabeth Hope (b.?, d.1961). Their son, Lieutenant-Colonel George Anthony Murray (b.1907, d.1945), married Angela Pearson (b.1910, d.1981), daughter of Sir Weetman Harold Miller Pearson, 2^nd Viscount Cowdray. Their son became 10^th Duke of Argyll. Educated at Eton and Christ Church College Oxford, he went into business and served as Chairman on several boards. After succeeding as duke he developed forestry and tourism in the estates surrounding Blair Castle and resurrected the Atholl Highlanders in 1966 as a ceremonial private army. He was a Representative Peer from 1958 until the Peerage Act of 1963 allowed all Scottish peers automatic privileges in the House of Lords. He died unmarried.

11^th Duke of Atholl, John Murray, b. 1929, a.1996, d.2012

Great-grandson of the Reverend George Edward Murray mentioned above, grandson of the Reverend Douglas Stuart Murray (b.1853, d.1920) and Harriet Georgina Isabel Bridgeman (b.1853, d.1921), a grand-daughter of Sir George Augustus Frederick Henry Bridgeman, 2^nd Earl of Bradford, and son of Major George Murray (b.1884, d.1940) and Joan Eastwood of South Africa. He was born and raised in Johannesburg and graduated from the University of Witwatersrand, after which he worked as a surveyor. Succeeding late in life, he was disinherited by his predecessor, who had passed most of his holdings to a charitable trust shortly before his death, and was left with little more than the titles. However he maintained the traditions of the duke by promising to preserve the role of the Atholl Highlanders and made annual visits to Scotland until his death.

12th Duke of Atholl, Bruce George Ronald Murray, b.1960, a.2012

Son of the 11th Duke and Margaret Yvonne Leach of Transvaal, South Africa. He was educated at Saasveld Forestry College and served in South African Infantry Corps during his National Service, and is currently a Lieutenant in the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, a reserve infantry regiment in the South African Army. He joined the Atholl Highlanders in 2000 as a Lieutenant-Colonel before succeeding as Commander-in-Chief. As well as being 12^th Duke of Atholl, he is also 13^th Marquess of Atholl, 12^th Marquess of Tillibardin, 14^th Earl of Atholl, 15^th & 13^th Earl of Tullibardine (two instances), 12^th Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle, 13^th Viscount of Balquidder, 12^th Viscount of Balwhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, 17^th Lord Murray of Tullibardine, 15^th Lord Murray, Gask and Balquidder, and 12^th Lord Murray, Balvenie and Gask. He is also Chief of Clan Murray.

The courtesy title of the heir is Marquess of Tullibardine.

(Last updated 29/10/2012)

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