Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl

His Grace The Duke of Atholl
Coat of arms of the Duke of Atholl
Preceded by	John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl
Personal details
Born	Bruce George Ronald Murray 6 April 1960 South Africa
Nationality	South African
Spouse(s)	Lynne Elizabeth Andrew (m. 1984; div. 2003) Charmaine Myrna du Toit (m. 2009)
Children	Michael Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine Lord David Murray Lady Nicole Murray
Parents	John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl Margaret Yvonne Leach
Residence	Louis Trichardt
Website	www.blair-castle.co.uk

OStJ insignia

Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl (born 6 April 1960) is a South African-born^[1] hereditary peer in the Peerage of Scotland and Chief of Clan Murray. As Duke of Atholl, he has the right to raise Europe's only legal private army, named 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] matriculated at 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]

Marriage and children

The Duke first married on 4 February 1984 at Johannesburg Lynne Elizabeth Andrew (born Johannesburg, 7 June 1963)^{[n 1]} and they divorced in 2003.

Together they had three children, two sons and one daughter:^{[3][4][10][11][12][13][14]}

• Michael Bruce John Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine (born in Louis Trichardt, 5 March 1985)
• Lord David Nicholas George Murray (born in Louis Trichardt, 31 January 1986)
• Lady Nicole Murray (born in Duiwelskloof, 11 July 1987); married to Peter Piek.

He married Charmaine Myrna (née du Toit) in 2009.

Titles and styles

• 6 April 1960 - 27 February 1996: Mr Bruce Murray
• 27 February 1996 - 15 May 2012: Marquess of Tullibardine
• 15 May 2012 – present: His Grace The Duke of Atholl

Ancestry

Ancestors of Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl

16. George Edward Murray               8. Douglas Stuart Murray                       17. Penelope Frances Austin               4. George Murray                             18. George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman               9. Harriet Georgina Isabel Bridgeman                       19. Emily Mary Bagot               2. John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl                                   20. John William Eastwood               10. William Edward Eastwood                       5. Joan Eastwood                             22. Henry William Bidwell               11. Edith Caroline Bidwell                       23. Mary Elizabeth White               1. Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl                                         24. Charles William Leach               12. Charles Ronald Leach                       25. Agnes Mary Bell               6. Ronald Leonard Leach                             26. Hans Jacobus Zeederman               13. Louise Adelaide Zeederberg                       27. Jessie Gray               3. Margaret Yvonne Leach                                   28. Bauke Theunis Kleineman               14. Johannes Petrus Stephanus Kleinenberg                       29. Maria Magdalena Coetzee               7. Faith Kleinenberg                             30. John Skinner Cooksley               15. Letitia Pittendrigh Cooksley                       31. Mary Pittindrigh

Notes

1. Daughter of Nicholas George Andrew of Bedfordview, South Africa, (born in Brighton, June 1939) and Evelyn Donne de Villiers. Nicholas Andrew's parents were Stanley R. Andrew (born 1915 in Wellington, Somerset and Irene M. St John Sherwin (married 1938 in Taunton GRO vol 5c 593)^[3]

References

1. Three Generations of the Atholl family to be on parade at Blair Castle - website VisitScotland Perthshire
2. "The Duke of Atholl". The Daily Telegraph. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
3. Information on Murray, Bruce George Ronald - website Royal Genealogy Page of the Department of Computer Science, University of Hull
4. 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 - website of the South African Archaeological Society
6. Local Marquess presents colours to Her Majesty - www.zoutnet.co.za
7. Clan & Septs - website of the Clan Murray Society
8. Highlander’s Visit (5/29 – 6/7) - website of the Atholl 250th Anniversary Committee
9. John Murray, the 11th Duke of Atholl, dies in South Africa - website of The Courier
10. Dukes of Atholl - website of Cracroft's Peerage
11. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage
12. http://www.van-gool.info/Leach.htm
13. http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/u/p/Amanda-M-Du-plessis/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0011.html
14. http://www.southafricansettlers.com/

External links

• Profile, clanmurray.org
• Profile, burkespeerage.com
• Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl