Earl of Dunmore

Earldom of Dunmore
Creation date	1686
Created by	James VII
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore
Present holder	Malcolm Murray, 12th Earl of Dunmore
Remainder to	heirs male of the body of the grantee
Subsidiary titles	Viscount of Fincastle Baron Dunmore (1831–1980) Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet

Alexander Murray, 8th Earl of Dunmore, VC, DSO, MVO, DL

Earl of Dunmore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.

The title Earl of Dunmore was created in 1686 for Lord Charles Murray, son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. The title passed down through generations, with various earls serving in the House of Lords as Scottish Representative Peers and holding other political positions. The 4th Earl was a colonial governor in New York, Virginia, and the Bahamas, while the 5th Earl bought the Estate of Harris in 1834. The 7th Earl served under Benjamin Disraeli and was the Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire. The 8th Earl received the Victoria Cross and held political office as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. The barony of Dunmore became extinct after the 9th Earl's death in 1980, but the other titles passed to his distant relatives in Tasmania, Australia. The family seat was located at Amhuinnsuidhe Castle on the Isle of Harris and Dunmore Tower near Falkirk.

History

The title was created in 1686 for Lord Charles Murray, second son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. He was made Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet (or Tullimet) and Viscount of Fincastle at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was a General in the Army and sat in the House of Lords as a Scottish representative peer from 1713 to 1715 and from 1727 to 1752. His younger brother, William Murray, later to become the third Earl, was involved in the Jacobite rising of 1745 and was tried for high treason in 1746. Murray pleaded guilty but received a pardon from King George II and succeeded to the peerages when his brother died unmarried six years later.

The third Earl was succeeded by his son. The fourth Earl was a Scottish Representative Peer in the House of Lords from 1761 to 1774 and from 1776 to 1790 and served as colonial governor of New York, Virginia and the Bahamas. His tenure as governor of the New York and Virginia colonies was to end with the start of the American Revolution. Lord Dunmore's eldest son, the fifth Earl, briefly represented Liskeard in the House of Commons. In 1831 he was created Baron Dunmore, of Dunmore in the Forest of Athole in the County of Perth, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave him and his descendants a permanent seat in the House of Lords.

George Murray, 5th Earl of Dunmore, bought the Estate of Harris from Alexander Norman Macleod for £60,000 in 1834. In 1839, the people of South Harris were ejected from their homes by armed soldiers and a posse of Glasgow policemen acting on orders from the government, at the behest of the Earl of Dunmore. The 6th Earl of Dunmore, Alexander Edward Murray, had inherited Harris upon the death of his father on 11 November 1836 and would in turn be succeeded by his son, Charles Adolphus, following the 6th Earl's death on 14 July 1845. Thus the 6th Earl was about halfway through his proprietorship of the island when he was providing a pound per person for those electing to leave.

The seventh Earl of Dunmore served as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) in the second Conservative administration of Benjamin Disraeli and was also Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire. The 7th Earl relinquished ownership of the North Harris Estate to his bankers, in particular the Scott family. He was succeeded by his son, the eighth Earl. He was a soldier and was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1897. Lord Dunmore later held political office as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (government chief whip in the House of Lords). On the death in 1980 of his grandson, the ninth Earl, the line of the fifth Earl failed and the barony of Dunmore became extinct.

The late Earl was succeeded by his distant relative (his fourth cousin once removed), the tenth Earl. He was the great-great-grandson of the Hon. Alexander Murray, second son of the fourth Earl, and lived in Tasmania, Australia. As of 2017 the titles are held by his nephew, the twelfth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1995. He also lives in Tasmania, Australia and is a well respected Freemason.

As a male-line descendant of the first Marquess of Atholl he is also in remainder to this peerage and its subsidiary titles and by special remainder to the Dukedom, which are now held by his kinsman Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl.

The family seat was Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, on the Isle of Harris and Dunmore Tower, near Airth, Falkirk.

Earls of Dunmore (1686)

1. Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore (1661–1710)
2. John Murray, 2nd Earl of Dunmore (1685–1752)
3. William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore (1696–1756)
4. John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730–1809)
5. George Murray, 5th Earl of Dunmore (1762–1836)
6. Alexander Edward Murray, 6th Earl of Dunmore (1804–1845)
7. Charles Adolphus Murray, 7th Earl of Dunmore (1841–1907)
8. Alexander Edward Murray, 8th Earl of Dunmore (1871–1962)
9. John Alexander Murray, 9th Earl of Dunmore (1939–1980)
10. Reginald Arthur Murray, 10th Earl of Dunmore (1911–1981)
11. Kenneth Randolph Murray, 11th Earl of Dunmore (1913–1995)
12. Malcolm Kenneth Murray, 12th Earl of Dunmore (b. 1946)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother Hon. Geoffrey Charles Murray (b. 1949).
The heir presumptive's heir presumptive is his first cousin Stephen Alexander Murray (b. 1953).
The heir presumptive's heir presumptive's heir apparent is his son, Anthony Victor Murray (b. 1989).

Family tree

Family tree of Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls of Atholl

Earl of Atholl (fourth creation), 1367 Robert Stewart 1316–1390 1st Earl of Atholl, Earl of Strathearn, Later Robert II, King of Scots Earl of Atholl (sixth creation), 1403 Earl of Atholl (seventh creation), 1404 John Stewart c. 1337–1406 2nd Earl of Atholl, Earl of Carrick, Later Robert III, King of Scots Robert Stewart 1340–1420 Duke of Albany, Earl of Atholl Walter Stewart c. 1360–1437 Earl of Atholl, Earl of Strathearn, Earl of Caithness Earldom of Atholl (fourth creation) merged in the crown, 1390 Earldom of Atholl (sixth creation) expired on the death of Robert III, 1406 Earldom of Atholl (seventh creation) attainted, 1404 Earl of Atholl (fifth creation), 1398 David Stewart 1378–1402 Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Atholl, Earl of Carrick James I 1394–1437 King of Scots Joan Beaufort c. 1404–1445 Queen of Scots James Stewart "Black Knight of Lorn" 1399–c. 1451 Earldom of Atholl (fifth creation) extinct, 1402 Earl of Atholl (eighth creation), c. 1457 Lord of Balveny, 1460 John Stewart c. 1437–1442–1512 1st Earl of Atholl John Stewart after 1475 – before 1522 2nd Earl of Atholl John Stewart 1507–1542 3rd Earl of Atholl John Stewart "the fair" d. 1579 4th Earl of Atholl Earl of Atholl (ninth creation), 1596 Lord Murray of Tullibardine, 1604, Earl of Tullibardine (first creation) and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder, 1606 John Stewart 1566–1603 1st Earl of Atholl, 6th Lord Innermeath Marie Ruthven (d. after 1605) John Stewart 1563–1595 5th Earl of Atholl John Murray (c. 1550 – c. 1609) 1st Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Earldom of Atholl (eighth creation) extinct, 1595 Earl of Tullibardine (second creation), 1628 James Stewart d. 1625 2nd Earl of Atholl Dorothea Stewart William Murray c. 1574–1627 2nd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Patrick Murray 1578–1644 1st Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Earldom of Atholl (ninth creation) extinct, 1625 Resigned Earldom of Tullibardine and lordships in favour of his brother, 1626 Baron Strange (fourth creation), 1628 Earl of Atholl (tenth creation), 1629 James Stanley 1607–1651 7th Earl of Derby, 1st Baron Strange John Murray c. 1610–1642 1st Earl of Atholl James Murray 1617–1670 2nd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Marquess of Atholl, Earl of Tullibardine, Viscount of Balquhidder, and Lord Murray, Balveny and Gask, 1676 Charles Stanley 1628–1672 8th Earl of Derby, 2nd Baron Strange Amelia Ann Sophia Stanley 1633–1702/03 John Murray 1631–1703 1st Marquess of Atholl, 2nd Earl of Atholl, 3rd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Patrick Murray (c. 1644 – c. 1661–1664) styled Lord Murray and Gask James Murray (c. 1652 – c. 1664–1670) styled Lord Murray and Gask Earl of Tullibardine, Viscount Glenalmond and Lord Murray, 1696 Duke of Atholl, Marquess of Tullibardine, Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle Viscount of Balwhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, Lord Murray, Balveny and Gask, 1703 Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 1686 William Richard George Stanley c. 1655–1702 9th Earl of Derby, 3rd Baron Strange James Stanley 1664–1736 10th Earl of Derby, 6th Baron Strange John Murray 1660–1724 1st Duke of Atholl, 2nd Marquess of Atholl Charles Murray 1661–1710 1st Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Henrietta Stanley 1687–1718 4th Baroness Strange John Murray 1684–1709 styled Marquess of Tullibardine William Murray 1689–1746 styled Marquess of Tullibardine James Murray 1690–1764 2nd Duke of Atholl, 7th Baron Strange George Murray 1694–1760 John Murray 1685–1752 2nd Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet William Murray 1696–1756 3rd Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Attainted and excluded from succession Attainted and excluded from succession Henrietta Ashburnham c. 1716–1732 5th Baroness Strange John Murray 1728–1729 styled Marquess of Tullibardine James Murray 1735–1736 styled Marquess of Tullibardine Charlotte Murray 1731–1805 8th Baroness Strange John Murray 1729–1774 3rd Duke of Atholl John Murray 1730–1809 4th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley in the County of Gloucester, 1786 Baron Dunmore, 1831 John Murray 1755–1830 4th Duke of Atholl, 1st Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley, 9th Baron Strange George Murray 1761–1803 George Murray 1762–1836 5th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 1st Baron Dunmore Alexander Murray 1764–1842 Baron Glenlyon, of Glenlyon in the County of Perth Charlotte Murray 1775–1832 m. Adam Drummond, 7th Baron of Megginch John Murray 1778–1846 5th Duke of Atholl, 2nd Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley, 10th Baron Strange James Murray 1782–1837 1st Baron Glenlyon George Murray 1784–1860 John Drummond 1803–1889 8th Baron of Megginch George Augustus Frederick John Murray 1814–1864 6th Duke of Atholl, 11th Baron Strange, 3rd Baron Murray of Stanley, 2nd Baron Glenlyon George Edward Murray 1818–1854 Alexander Edward Murray 1804–1845 6th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 2nd Baron Dunmore Virginius Murray 1817–1861 Malcolm Drummond 1856–1924 9th Baron of Megginch John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray 1840–1917 7th Duke of Atholl, 12th Baron Strange, 4th Baron Murray of Stanley, 3rd Baron Glenlyon George Herbert Murray 1849–1936 Douglas Stuart Murray 1853–1920 Charles Adolphus Murray 1841–1907 7th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 3rd Baron Dunmore Reginald Murray 1846–1925 John George Stewart-Murray 1871–1942 8th Duke of Atholl and Marquess of Tullibardine, 13th Baron Strange, 5th Baron Murray of Stanley, 4th Baron Glenlyon James Thomas Stewart-Murray 1879–1957 9th Duke of Atholl, 14th Baron Strange, 6th Baron Murray of Stanley, 5th Baron Glenlyon George Evelyn Pemberton Murray 1880–1947 George Murray 1884–1940 Alexander Edward Murray 1871–1962 8th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 4th Baron Dunmore Arthur Charles Murray 1882–1964 Earldom of Strange and Baronies of Murray and Glenlyon extinct and Barony of Strange abeyant, 1957 Baron Strange (fourth creation) abeyance terminated, 1965 John Drummond 1900–1982 15th Baron Strange, 10th Baron of Megginch George Anthony Murray 1907–1945 Edward David Murray 1908–1940 styled Viscount Fincastle Reginald Arthur Murray 1911–1981 10th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Kenneth Randolph Murray 1913–1995 11th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Baron Strange (fourth creation) abeyant, 1982–1986 Jean Cherry Drummond 1928–2008 16th Baroness Strange, 11th Baroness of Megginch George Iain Murray 1931–1996 10th Duke of Atholl John Murray 1929–2012 11th Duke of Atholl John Alexander Murray 1939–1980 9th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 5th Baron Dunmore Barony Dunmore extinct, 1980 Adam Humphrey Drummond b. 1953 17th Baron Strange, 12th Baron of Megginch Bruce George Ronald Murray 12th Duke of Atholl b. 1960 Malcolm Kenneth Murray b. 1946 12th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Geoffrey Charles Murray b. 1949 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Dunmore John Adam Humphrey Drummond b. 1992 Michael Bruce John Murray b. 1985 styled Marquess of Tullibardine David Nicholas George Murray b. 1986 Heir apparent to the Barony of Strange Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Atholl

See also

• Duke of Atholl
• Lady Augusta Murray
• Sir Charles Murray
• Baron Dunmore

References

Sources

• Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 322.
• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.,
• Donald J MacLeod, Woodcroft Avenue, Bridge of Don in The Scotsman, Edinburgh 21 April 2011
• The Caledonian Mercury, 2 September 1841
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Alexander Murray, 9th Earl of Dunmore
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Reginald Arthur Murray, 10th Earl of Dunmore
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Kenneth Randolph Murray, 11th Earl of Dunmore