James Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose

The 7th Duke of Montrose in 1967

James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose ID (2 May 1907 – 10 February 1992), styled Earl of Kincardine until 1925 and Marquess of Graham between 1925 and 1954, was a British-born Rhodesian politician. Born in Scotland, he maintained a lifelong interest in politics and was a lover of all things Scottish. He lived in southern Africa for fifty-five years, serving as the Minister of Agriculture in Rhodesia under Ian Smith, was a signatory to Unilateral Declaration of Independence and farmed several properties.

Early life

As Marquess of Graham, the Duke was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He was in HMS Kandahar as part of Louis Mountbatten's flotilla in the North Sea and later served in the Mediterranean and at Aden.

Angus, Marquess of Graham aged twenty-one (later 7th Duke of Montrose)

Life

The Marquis of Graham completed three years at Oxford and graduated Bachelor of Arts. He first went to Rhodesia in 1930, taking up a position with A.E.&I., the South African subsidiary of ICI. While he was on holiday in England in 1939, war with Germany was declared and he signed up with the Admiral Commanding Reserves and was appointed Lieutenant in the RNVR, joining HMS Kandahar.

In 1954 he inherited his father's titles and became Duke of Montrose. He enjoyed hunting trips in Kenya, where he met his second wife, Susan Semple. The family grew up on Derry Farm at Nyabira outside Salisbury, where the crops included maize and tobacco. A pedigree Brahman cattle stud was established after importing bloodstock from Texas. Although, in an article published in Illustrated Life Rhodesia in the mid-1970s, Montrose indicated that he saw his family remaining in Rhodesia for future generations, he and his family moved to South Africa in 1979 and then to Scotland, where he spent his final days. Always a keen Gaelic speaker with a great fondness for the Highlands and islands of Scotland, he lies buried in the family cemetery near Loch Lomond.

Family

He was first married to Isabel Veronia Sellar and had issue, both born in Southern Rhodesia:

• Lady Fiona Mary Graham. Married 1966, Peter Alexander O'Brien Hannon and has issue: Catherine Mary (born 1968) and Veronica Maeve (born 1971).
• James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose. Married 1970, Catherine Elizabeth MacDonell Young and has issue: Lady Hermione Elizabeth Graham (born 1971), James Alexander Norman Graham, Marquess of Graham (born 1973) and Lord Ronald John Christopher Graham (born 1975).

7th Duke & Duchess of Montrose in Scotland 1981

He married secondly Susan Mary Joclyn Semple of Kenya and had issue:

• Lady Cairistiona Anne Graham, born 1955. Married 1982, Philip Patrick Saggers of Australia and has issue: Susanna Mary Saggers (born 1984), Marina Lilias Saggers (born 1986) and Georgina Frances Saggers (born 1989).
• Lord Donald Alasdair Graham, born 1956. Married 1981, Bridie Donalda Elspeth Cameron of the Black Isle and has issue: Caitriana Mary Alice (born 1984), Alasdair John Cameron (1986–1988), Violet Elizabeth Helen (born 1992), Jennie Alexandra Cameron (born 1993) and Finlay Donald Cameron (born 1998).
• Lord Calum Ian Graham, married 1991 Catherine Beatrice Fraser-Mackenzie (died 2008) and has issue: Iain Angus (born 1995), Euan Douglas (born 1996) and Christabel Emily (born 2001).
• Lady Lilias Catriona Maighearad Graham, married Jonathan Dillon Bell of Wellington, New Zealand, and has issue: Charles Michael Dillon Bell (born 1993) and Eleanor Caroline Bell (born 1994).

His son and heir, the 8th Duke of Montrose, is currently a Conservative government minister.

Titles from birth

• Earl of Kincardine (1907–1925)
• Marquess of Graham (1925–1954)
• His Grace The Duke of Montrose (1954–1992)

External links

• James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose, thePeerage.com
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Montrose

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by James Graham	Duke of Montrose 1954–1992	Succeeded by James Graham