Murray, John, 2d marquess And 1st duke Of Atholl

Related Category: British and Irish History: Biographies

(mûr´ē, ăth´əl), 1660–1724, Scottish nobleman; son of the 2d earl and 1st marquess. A supporter of William III, he held high government posts in Scotland and was created duke in 1703. He successfully weathered a plot against him by Simon Fraser, Baron Lovat, and James Douglas, 2d duke of Queensberry. A vigorous opponent of the union (1707) of England and Scotland, he was suspected of Jacobite leanings. Nonetheless, he supported the accession (1714) of George I (although he lost office) and remained loyal to the government during the Jacobite uprising of 1715.