Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl

South African-born hereditary peer in the Peerage of Scotland and Chief of Clan Murray

His Grace
The Duke of Atholl
OStJ
Coat of arms of the Duke of Atholl
Preceded byJohn Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl
Personal details
Born
Bruce George Ronald Murray

(1960-04-06) 6 April 1960 (age 64)
Louis Trichardt, South Africa
Parents
Residence(s)Louis Trichardt, South Africa

Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl OStJ (born 5/6 April 1960), is a South African-born hereditary peer in the Peerage of Scotland and Chief of Clan Murray.[1] As Duke of Atholl, he has the right to raise Europe's only legal private army, the Atholl Highlanders, a unique privilege granted to his family by Queen Victoria after visiting Blair Atholl in 1844.[2]

Early life and career

The elder son of John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl, and Margaret Yvonne (née Leach), now styled the Dowager Duchess of Atholl,[3][4] graduated from Jeppe High School for Boys Johannesburg in 1979. He was educated at Saasveld Forestry College before serving his two years' National Service with the South African Infantry Corps.[1] He is currently a volunteer member of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, holding the rank of lieutenant.[4] Previously, he managed a tea plantation, but then ran a signage business producing signs for commercial buildings.[5][6] He was commissioned into the Atholl Highlanders in 2000,[1][7] being appointed as lieutenant colonel.[8] Upon the death of his father on 15 May 2012, he succeeded to all his father's titles, becoming the 12th Duke of Atholl.[2][9]

Marriages and children

The Duke first married on 4 February 1984, in Johannesburg, to Lynne Elizabeth Andrew (born Johannesburg, 7 June 1963), daughter of Nicholas George Andrew of Bedfordview, South Africa (born Brighton, East Sussex, June 1939) and wife Evelyn Donne de Villiers,[3] and they divorced in 2003. Together they had two sons and one daughter:[3][4][10][11][12][13]

He married secondly Charmaine Myrna du Toit in 2009, without issue.

References

  1. ^ a b c Three Generations of the Atholl family to be on parade at Blair Castle – website VisitScotland Perthshire
  2. ^ a b "The Duke of Atholl". The Daily Telegraph. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Information on Murray, Bruce George Ronald Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine – website Royal Genealogy Page of the Department of Computer Science, University of Hull
  4. ^ a b c Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes (Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999), volume 1, page 133.
  5. ^ KAOXA'S SHELTER, THE DIGGING STICK, Volume 17, No 1 ISSN 1013-7521 April 2000, Acknowledgements Archived 15 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of the South African Archaeological Society
  6. ^ Local Marquess presents colours to Her Majesty – www.zoutnet.co.za
  7. ^ Clan & Septs Archived 23 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Clan Murray Society
  8. ^ Highlander’s Visit (5/29 – 6/7) Archived 30 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Atholl 250th Anniversary Committee
  9. ^ John Murray, the 11th Duke of Atholl, dies in South Africa Archived 20 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of The Courier
  10. ^ Dukes of Atholl Archived 26 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine – website of Cracroft's Peerage
  11. ^ Burke's Peerage and Baronetage
  12. ^ "Amanda-M-Du-plessis – User Trees – Genealogy.com". Familytreemaker.genealogy.com. 12 February 1944. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  13. ^ "South African Settlers". South African Settlers. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  • "Burke's Peerage and Baronetage"
  • http://www.van-gool.info/Leach.htm Archived 25 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  • http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/u/p/Amanda-M-Du-plessis/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0011.html
  • http://www.southafricansettlers.com/

External links

  • Profile, clanmurray.org
  • Profile, burkespeerage.com
  • Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Duke of Atholl

2012–present
Incumbent
Order of precedence in England and Wales
Preceded by Gentlemen
The Duke of Atholl
Succeeded by
Order of precedence in Scotland
Preceded by Gentlemen
The Duke of Atholl
Succeeded by
Order of precedence in Northern Ireland
Preceded by Gentlemen
The Duke of Atholl
Succeeded by


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Italics indicate the duke also holds a previously listed dukedom of greater precedence