James Graham, 3rd Duke Of Montrose

James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose, KG, KT, PC (8 September 1755 – 30 December 1836), styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.

Background

Montrose was the son of William Graham, 2nd Duke of Montrose, and Lady Lucy Manners, daughter of John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland.

Political career

Montrose was Member of Parliament for Richmond from 1780, and for Great Bedwyn from 1784 to 1790, when he succeeded his father in the dukedom. According to Robert Bain, Scotland can thank him for the repeal in 1782 of the Dress Act 1746 prohibiting the wearing of tartans. He served as a Lord of the Treasury from 1783 to 1789, and as co-Paymaster of the Forces from 1789 to 1791. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor and Vice-President of the Board of Trade in 1789. He was Master of the Horse from 1790 to 1795, and from 1807 to 1821, Commissioner for India from 1791 to 1803, Lord Justice General of Scotland from 1795 to 1836, President of the Board of Trade from 1804 to 1806, Lord Chamberlain from 1821 to 1827 and from 1828 to 1830.

He was appointed Colonel of the Fifeshire Militia when that regiment was first raised in 1798, and given the rank of Brevet Colonel in the army while the regiment was embodied. He was replaced by a professional military officer when the regiment as reorganised in 1802.

He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1793, resigning from the Order when appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1812. He was Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 1780 to 1836, Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire from 1790 to 1793, Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire from 1795 until his death, and Lord Lieutenant of Dumbartonshire from 1813 until his death.

Graham was a very effective member of the House of Commons, especially when speaking on Scottish topics. Early in his career as a minister under William Pitt the Younger, Graham was attacked in the '' Rolliad'':

:——Superior to abuse,
:He nobly glories in the name of GOOSE;
:Such Geese at Rome from the perfidious Gaul
:Preserv'd the Treas'ry-Bench and Capitol, &c. &c

Family

Montrose was twice married. He married firstly Lady Jemima Ashburnham, daughter of John Ashburnham, 2nd Earl of Ashburnham, in 1785. His first wife died in September 1786, aged 24 (following the death of their only son born on 4 September 1786, who died as an infant in April 1787).

After her death, he married secondly Lady Caroline Montagu, daughter of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester and Elizabeth Montagu, Duchess of Manchester, on 24 July 1790. They had seven children:

# Lady Georgiana-Charlotte, born 1791. Married George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea.
# Lady Caroline, born September 1792.
# Lady Lucy, born October 1793. Married Edward Herbert, Viscount Clive (Later 2nd Earl of Powis). Grandson of Clive of India.
# James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose, born 16 July 1799.
# Lady Martha, died in infancy.
# Lady Emily, born in 1805. Married Edward Thomas Foley, grandson of Lord Foley.
# Montagu-William, born February 1807.
Montrose died at Grosvenor Square in December 1836, aged 81, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, James. The Duchess of Montrose died in March 1847, aged 76.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montrose, James Graham, 3rd Duke of
1755 births
1836 deaths
18th-century Scottish nobility
19th-century Scottish people
British MPs 1780–1784
British MPs 1784–1790
Fifeshire Militia officers
Montrose, 3rd Duke of
203
Knights of the Garter
Knights of the Thistle
Lord-lieutenants of Dunbartonshire
Lord-lieutenants of Huntingdonshire
Lord-lieutenants of Stirlingshire
Lords Justice-General
Graham, James Graham, Marquess of
Members of the Privy Council of Great Britain
Graham, James Graham, Marquess of
Postmasters general of the United Kingdom
Presidents of the Board of Trade
Members of Parliament for Great Bedwyn