James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose

Shield of Arms of James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose, KT, PC

James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose, KT, PC (16 July 1799 – 30 December 1874), styled Marquess of Graham until 1836, of Buchanan Castle, Stirlingshire and 45 Belgrave Square, London,<ref>The Royal Court Guide, and Fashionable Directory, 1842</ref> was a British Conservative politician.

Background and education

Montrose was the son of James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose, by his second wife Lady Caroline Maria, daughter of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester.<ref name="thepeerage.com">thepeerage.com James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose</ref> He was educated at Eton<ref name="universitystory">Template:Cite web</ref> and Trinity College, Cambridge.<ref>Template:Acad</ref>

Cricket

A member of Marylebone Cricket Club, Montrose made a single first-class appearance for an All-England team against Hampshire in 1828. He was recorded in the scorecard as Lord James Graham and scored two runs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Political career

In 1821, aged 21, Montrose was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> despite not having a seat in Parliament, and was sworn of the Privy Council the same year.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> He remained as Vice-Chamberlain until 1827. He was returned to Parliament for Cambridge in 1825, a seat he held until 1832,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and served as a commissioner of the India Board between 1828 and 1830.<ref name="universitystory"/> In 1836 he succeeded his father in the dukedom and entered the House of Lords.

When the Earl of Derby became Prime Minister in February 1852, Montrose was appointed Lord Steward of the Household,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> a post he retained until the government fell in December of the same year. He again served under Derby as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 1858 and 1859<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and under Derby and later Benjamin Disraeli as Postmaster General between 1866 and 1868,<ref name="leighrayment.com">Template:Usurped</ref> although he was never a member of the Cabinet. As Postmaster General he introduced the Electric Telegraphs Bill which resulted in the transfer of British telegraph companies to the Post Office.<ref name="universitystory"/>

Castle Buchanan, rebuilt by the 4th Duke after fire.

Apart from his political career Montrose served as Chancellor of the University of Glasgow between 1837 and 1874 (succeeding his father)<ref name="universitystory"/> and as Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire between 1843 and 1874.<ref name="leighrayment.com"/> He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1845.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

Marriage and issue

In 1836, Montrose married Hon. Caroline Agnes Horsley-Beresford (1818–1894), daughter of John Beresford, 2nd Baron Decies and grand-niece of the 1st Marquess of Waterford. In 1860, they were both survivors of the train involved in the Atherstone rail accident. She survived him and in 1876 married secondly to William Stuart Stirling-Crawfurd.<ref name="thepeerage.com"/><ref> Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, p.2176</ref><ref>See lawsuit "Stirling_Stuart v Montgomerie and others (Stirling-Crawfurd's Trustees) Stirling Scottish Court of Session, 6 February 1885 [1]</ref> By his wife he had issue including:<ref name="DukeMontrose">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sons

• Lord James John Graham (1845–1846), who died in infancy.<ref name="DukeMontrose"/>
• Lord James Graham (1847–1872), styled by the courtesy title of Marquess of Graham,<ref name="DukeMontrose"/> eldest surviving son and heir apparent, who predeceased his father by two years.
• Douglas Beresford Malise Ronald Graham, 5th Duke of Montrose (1852–1925), only surviving son and heir, who married Violet Hermione Graham, second daughter of Sir Frederick Ulric Graham, 3rd Baronet.<ref name="DukeMontrose"/>

Daughters

• Lady Agnes Caroline Graham (1839–1873), who married Lt. Col. John Murray of Touchadam and Polmaise in 1859.<ref name="DukeMontrose"/>
• Lady Beatrice Violet Graham (1842–1932), was a writer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (she married Algernon Greville, 2nd Baron Greville in 1863).<ref name="DukeMontrose"/>
• Lady Alma Imogen Leonora Carlotta Graham Template:Postnom (1854–1932), who married Gavin Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane in 1872.<ref name="DukeMontrose"/>

Death

He died at Cannes in December 1874, aged 75, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, Douglas Graham, 5th Duke of Montrose (1852–1925).

External links

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