Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl
The Duchess of Atholl | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duchess of Atholl | |
| Tenure | 1846–1864 |
| Born | Anne Home-Drummond 17 June 1814 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 22 May 1897 Dunkeld, Perthshire |
| Buried | Blair Atholl |
| Spouse(s) | George Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl |
| Issue | John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl |
| Father | Henry Home-Drummond |
| Mother | Christian Moray |
| Occupation | Mistress of the Robes, then Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria |
Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl VA (née Anne Home-Drummond; 17 June 1814 – 22 May 1897), and known as the Lady Glenlyon between 1839–46, as the Duchess of Atholl between 1846–64 and as the Dowager Duchess of Atholl between 1864–97, was a Scottish aristocrat and courtier. For 55 years, she was a close friend of Queen Victoria, who referred to her as "the dear Duchess".[1]
Murray was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, the daughter of Henry Home-Drummond, 6th of Blair Drummond. Her mother, Christian, was the daughter of Col. Charles Moray, 15th of Abercairny and Anne Stirling (daughter of Sir William Stirling), and eventual heiress to her brother William Moray-Stirling, 17th of Abercairny. At Blair Drummond, where she spent her childhood, Anne was a neighbour of the Murrays of Atholl family at Blair Castle.[1] She was educated in England.[2]
On 29 October 1839, she married George Murray, 2nd Baron Glenlyon, at Blair Drummond, thereby becoming Lady Glenlyon. In 1846, he succeeded his uncle as sixth Duke of Atholl, and Anne became Duchess of Atholl.[3]
The Duke and Duchess (who preferred the earlier spelling of Athole for their title and residence)[4] had one child, John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl (1840–1917).[3]
She served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria in Lord Derby's short-lived government of 1852. She subsequently served the queen as a Lady of the Bedchamber for almost forty years and was one of Victoria's closest friends. When The Prince Consort died, the Queen came out of the room where he had died and proclaimed, "Oh, Duchess, he is dead!"
The Duke of Atholl died in 1864, and Anne became the Dowager Duchess of Atholl. In 1892, when Gladstone again came to power, his policy of Home Rule for Ireland had alienated many of the upper classes, and no lady of ducal rank could be found who was willing to serve as Mistress of the Robes. The post therefore remained vacant, while the Dowager Duchess of Atholl and the Duchess of Roxburghe performed the duties of the office.
The Duchess of Atholl died at Dunkeld House, Perthshire, in May 1897, aged 82.[1] The Queen sent her telegrams every two hours during the last hours of her life.[2]
She was buried in the Murray family vault at the Old Blair churchyard.[5]
References
- ^ a b c "The late Dowager Duchess of Atholl". The Gentlewoman. 29 May 1897. p. 25. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Death of the Dowager-Duchess of Athole". Dundee Courier. 19 May 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 176. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
- ^ K. D. Reynolds, Aristocratic Women and Political Society in Victorian Britain, OUP (1998)
- ^ "Funeral of the Dowager-Duchess of Athole". Dundee Courier. 24 May 1897. p. 6. Retrieved 23 December 2024.