MURRAY John 1929-2012
ohn Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl (19 January 1929 – 15 May 2012), was a South African-born hereditary peer of the Peerage of Scotland, hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Murray, and Colonel-in-Chief of the Atholl Highlanders. As Duke of Atholl, he commanded the only legal private army in Europe. He acceded as the 11th duke on 27 February 1996, succeeding his second cousin, once removed, The 10th Duke of Atholl.
The Duke was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the only child of Major George Murray and wife Joan Murray (nee Eastwood) , daughter of William Edward Eastwood and wife Edith Caroline Bidwell, paternal granddaughter of John William Eastwood, manager of the Bradford Old Bank Ltd and maternal granddaughter of Henry William Bidwell and wife Mary Elizabeth White. His father was killed on active service in the Second World War.
Atholl continued to live in South Africa, while making annual visits to Scotland. He died on 15 May 2012 in a South African hospital at the age of 83. He was succeeded in his titles by his elder son, Bruce Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine.
As Duke of Atholl, he commanded the only legal private army in Europe, the Atholl Highlanders. The army is based at Blair Castle, the ancestral home of the dukes of Atholl. The Duke did not inherit Blair Castle, which passed to a charitable trust.
However, every year the Duke visited from South Africa to stay at Blair for the traditional display put on by his army.
The Duke was also the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Murray.
(source: Wikipedia)
contributed by: Braam Kruger
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