Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl
South African-born businessman and peer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl OStJ (born 5/6 April 1960) is a South African-born businessman and peer who is the chief of Clan Murray.[2] 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.[3]
6 April 1960[1]
- John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl
- Margaret Yvonne Leach
The Duke of Atholl | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bruce George Ronald Murray 6 April 1960[1] Louis Trichardt, South Africa |
| Parents |
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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,[4][5] 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.[2] He is currently a volunteer member of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, holding the rank of lieutenant.[5] Previously, he managed a tea plantation, but then ran a signage business producing signs for commercial buildings.[6][7] He was commissioned into the Atholl Highlanders in 2000,[2][8] being appointed as lieutenant colonel.[9] Upon the death of his father on 15 May 2012, he succeeded to all his father's titles, becoming the 12th Duke of Atholl.[3][10]
Marriages and children
The Duke first married on 4 February 1984, in Johannesburg, Lynne Elizabeth Andrew, elder daughter of Nicholas Andrew; Together they had two sons and one daughter. They were divorced in 2003.[4][1]
In 2009, he married secondly Charmaine Myrna du Toit, daughter of Dirk Du Toit, without issue. They were divorced in 2016.[1]
Honours
- Officer of the Order of St John, December 2015[11]
