November 10th 1774

3rd Duke of Atholl

When the 2nd Duke of Atholl died in 1764, he left no male successor. The nearest male heir was John Murray, whose father was Lieutenant to Prince Charles. In spite of his father’s Jacobite sympathies, John had always been a strong supporter of King George and no objections were raise against him succeeding to the title.

He was a conscientious man with a strong sense of responsibility towards his tenants. He was interested in agricultural improvements himself and took steps to improve his tenants methods of farming. This was relatively easily done by imposing certain conditions when granting tacks or leases, such as insisting on a rotation of crops such as potatoes, turnips or clover and fallow. He also took an interest in the growing of flax in Atholl and there is a note from Lord Kames, a noted improver, to the 3rd Duke.

“My Lord,

By order from my brethren the Trustees, I acquaint your Grace that ten hogsheads (of Lintseed) are given and that Mr Mackenzie of Delvin has undertaken to transmit them to Perth. And I think I can take it upon me to assure your Grace that you may have as much next year or more if you find it will promote the manufacture.”

The Lintseed was distributed free to the tenants and as the manufacture of linen was an important cottage industry in the highland and lowland parts of Atholl, the distribution of the seed was an important means of encouraging linen production. Bound up with this was the Duke’s plan to build a canal from the Tay to provide water for the Luncarty bleachfields.

In another effort to promote industry, he was instrumental in encouraging the erection of a paper mill at Huntingtower. This proved to be a most successful project and by the end of the century was producing 5-6,000 reams of paper a year and providing employment for 23-30 people.

As a landlord he was not prepared to sanction the very steep rises of rents which were imposed by many Highland proprietors of this period as is shown by this letter to Colonel James Grant of Ballindalloch.

“We should not forget that our present rank, fortune, ease and independence has been purchased by the blood of the ancestors of our present dependants and tenants. We ought to live and let live - by squeezing the very Vitals of the Poor I believe I could squeeze Ł6 or 700 a year out of them than I have at present but neither the Blessing of Providence nor the Approbation of my own heart would attend it so I am better as I am”

The third Duke died tragically at the age of forty five, only ten years after he had succeeded to the title. He suffered an apoplectic fit and while his forehead was being bathed with hartshorn, he seized the vessel and before anyone could stop him swallowed the contents. He began to bleed from both the nose and the mouth and understandably complained of a violent heat. He maintained that nothing would relieve him but being immersed in the Tay up to his chin. Though he was carefully watched he managed to strike out towards the centre of the river and was drowned