John Murray 1660-1724

John MURRAY, 1st Duke of Atholl 1660-1724

One of Murray's bookplates (British Museum Franks Collection *556)

Biographical Note

The eldest son of John Murray, 1st marquess of Atholl (1631–1703), he was born into a family which became torn between the Hanoverian and Jacobite allegiances. Murray himself supported the accession of William and Mary but was unable to carry most of his clan with him at the time of the government defeat at Killiecrankie (1689). He subsequently received both military and civil appointments in Scotland, becoming one of the secretaries of state in 1696 and shortly after was created earl of Tullibardine. He sat in the Scottish Parliament in the early 1700s and on the death of his father in 1703 he was created Marquess of Tullibardine and first Duke of Atholl.

Following political setbacks at this time he switched to support the Jacobite faction and voted against the Act of Union with England. Following the Act of Union, Murray's Jacobite sympathies waned and he was elected one of the Scottish representative peers of the House of Lords. On the death of Queen Anne he proclaimed George I king at Perth and supported the Hanoverian cause in 1715, whereas some of his sons fought on the Jacobite side at Sheriffmuir. On his death his title passed to his second son as the eldest had been disowned for Jacobitism in 1715.

Books

Used two engraved bookplates:

Franks *556 (Murray), The Right Honble. John, Earle of Tillibardin, Eldest Son to the Marquess of Atholl.
Franks 21379 (Murray), His Grace John, Duke of Atholl. 1711 .

The extent and disposition of his library is not known.

Sources

• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
• Young, John R. "Murray, John, first duke of Atholl (1660–1724), army officer and politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]].