South African-born hereditary peer in the Peerage of Scotland and Chief of Clan Murray
Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl OStJ (born 5/6 April 1960), is a South African-born hereditary peer in the Peerage of Scotland and Chief of Clan Murray.[1] As Duke of Atholl, he has the right to raise Europe's only legal private army, 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] graduated from 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]
Marriages and children
The Duke first married on 4 February 1984, in Johannesburg, to Lynne Elizabeth Andrew (born Johannesburg, 7 June 1963), daughter of Nicholas George Andrew of Bedfordview, South Africa (born Brighton, East Sussex, June 1939) and wife Evelyn Donne de Villiers,[3] and they divorced in 2003. Together they had three children, two sons and one daughter:[3][4][10][11][12][13]
He married secondly Charmaine Myrna du Toit in 2009, without issue.
