Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl OStJ (born 5/6 April 1960), is a South African-born businessman and peer who is the 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]
The Duke of Atholl | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bruce George Ronald Murray 6 April 1960 Louis Trichardt, South Africa |
| Parents |
|
| Residence(s) | Louis Trichardt, South Africa |
Early life and career
editThe 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
editThe 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
edit- ^ a b c Three Generations of the Atholl family to be on parade at Blair Castle – website VisitScotland Perthshire
- ^ a b "The Duke of Atholl". The Daily Telegraph. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ Local Marquess presents colours to Her Majesty – www.zoutnet.co.za
- ^ Clan & Septs Archived 23 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Clan Murray Society
- ^ Highlander’s Visit (5/29 – 6/7) Archived 30 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Atholl 250th Anniversary Committee
- ^ John Murray, the 11th Duke of Atholl, dies in South Africa Archived 20 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of The Courier
- ^ Dukes of Atholl Archived 26 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine – website of Cracroft's Peerage
- ^ Burke's Peerage and Baronetage
- ^ "Amanda-M-Du-plessis – User Trees – Genealogy.com". Familytreemaker.genealogy.com. 12 February 1944. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
- ^ "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
edit- Profile, clanmurray.org
- Profile, burkespeerage.com
- Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl
