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I've had to make some changes to my thesis plan but, amazingly, they went over quite well.



I am not abandoning my study of Lord William Murray, but in order to fully appreciate his situation and to grasp the politics of why he chose to fight for a losing cause (and with the urging of my new supervisor) I have decided that for the PhD I will focus on William's dad, John 1st Duke of Atholl.



The political situation he encounters in his life is very precarious and he is one of the last 'old-style' Scottish magnates. Also, the man had lands in both Highland and Lowland areas which cause him to be in a unique position with respect to his tenants and neighbors. The other caveat of focusing on Atholl is that there is a plethora of information on him and multitudes of primary research material which has never been published. Since no definitive work has been done on Atholl (in other words, yes, he has garnered mention in other's works but there has never been a study of him alone, he is also a researcher's dream come true.



William, his son, a Jacobite who lives on the continent from 1716 until his return in 1745 is extremely elusive and it will take time (more than I have as a PhD student and MONEY (which is readily available to post-doctoral researchers in vast quantities but is sorely absent for students!) so I am hoping to dedicate my post-doctoral research to discovering and illuminating William's whereabouts, movements and networking at a later date.



Besides - knowing where someone comes from is half the battle in determining their character.



That being said - I give you my new thesis plan which will be presented to the review committee in a few short weeks as they scourge me for not having more done:





Cheryl Garrett

History, PhD

2nd year



Due to unavoidable changes in supervision last year, my thesis plan has been revised to a political and personal profile of Lord John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl reviewing the major themes that dominate his life and Scotland from 1680 –1724. Work done for my previous thesis topic has not been compromised as it dovetails with this change of focus from the son (William Murray) to the father (Lord John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl).



Precursing what I hope leads to post-doctoral work on the subject of the duke’s second son Lord William Murray, his heir who was attainted in 1716 for Jacobitism, study of the 1st Duke, his family and peers in Scottish political life must be undertaken to fully understand why most of his sons in this, by all appearances, close-knit family chose to fight (more than once) for the Jacobite cause in the face of almost certain defeat. The dominant themes that influenced the duke and his decisions justify in depth investigation. He was a leading politician during the reign of William and Mary and then Anne and despite his seeming loyalty to the Protestant succession; he must have harboured some pro-Stuart attitudes as he was accused repeatedly of Jacobite sentiments. However, he managed to rise above his supposed sympathies to play a vital role in Scotland’s political realm and was successful at maintaining the balance between his Court duties and the mainly pro-Jacobite people who were his tenants. Raised an Episcopalian although converting after his marriage to Presbyterianism, Lord John Murray was an extremely influential man and a leader of a vast clan holding many titles of honour and influence from the Privy Council of Scotland to Keeper of the Great Seal and Extraordinary Lord of Session; he was also created a Knight of the Order of the Thistle. Furthermore, he was in command of his own private army at one time noted to easily put several thousand Atholl men in the field. This army still exists today as the only private army in the United Kingdom. His family had other ties to Jacobitism as witnessed in the arrest of his brother, Lord Nairne, after the ’15 whom he worked diligently to see released. The duke was also successful in securing the release of his son Charles after his arrest at the battle of Preston Pans in 1715, the only prisoner who survived and gained pardon. Both these instances of his direct intervention on behalf of family demonstrate his power with the Court; however, there are many other examples of the importance his influence had on the nation and time in which he lived.





Introduction

A depiction and survey of the themes dominating Atholl’s life and the rise and fall of Jacobitism will set precedence for the work. The primary topics to be analysed are: Monarchy (Stuart, Williamite and Hanoverian Regimes) v. Parliament; Scottish interests v. English interests prior to and post Union; Highland v. Lowland management and ideologies; and the divisions of religious belief - Episcopalian v. Presbyterian primarily and how these ecclesiastical rifts affected political and personal life.



Chapter 1

The major themes and influences of the early life of Lord John Murray and his entry as a major player in Scottish politics will be discussed. His relations with his father, Marquis of Atholl and his father’s reasons and manipulations for an influential marriage will be reviewed. Lord Murray’s alliance to the lowland House of Hamilton via his nuptials to Katherine Hamilton, oldest daughter of the Duke of Hamilton – a very important political figure at this time and a prior ‘enemy’ of the Murray house during the Civil Wars of the mid 17th century – is of primary focus as it colours nearly all his future actions especially his gains in political influence in the reigns of William and Mary and Anne. His role in the raising of the ‘Highland Host’, followed by the Atholl raid of 1685 set the stage for his approaching political power. Later, the Glorious Revolution and the brother-against-brother scenario that plays out between him and his brothers James and William, his reasoning for his actions during the siege of Blair Castle and the battle of Killekrankie will be discussed.

Spanning 1660 – 1690.

Sources: Special Archives at University of Aberdeen, Blair-Atholl Castle Private Archives, National Archives of Scotland and National Library of Scotland

Proposed Date of Submission: Summer 2008





Chapter 2

Lord Murray’s growing political influence as Secretary of State for Scotland, the major political and ecclesiastical themes that dominate his decisions during the reign of William and Mary and his commission as an investigator of the Massacre at Glencoe are of crucial importance. The involvement of the Murray and Hamilton families in the Darien scheme and the fallout of its failure will be examined. His involvement and relations with his peers including Breadalbane, Argyll, Hamilton, Queensbury, Seafield, Tweeddale, Mar, Glasgow, Perth, Ruthven, Gordon, Cameron, Seaforth, etc. and also with his father, mother, and his father-in-law the Duke of will be prominently discussed in this chapter. His rise from Lord Murray to Earl of Tullibardine is also an important milestone during this period before the death of the Marquis of Atholl in 1703. Also of importance is his relationship with his mother-in-law, Anne, Duchess of Hamilton and her influence through correspondence as she was devoutly Presbyterian and anti-Jacobite. Further, the motivations for Queen Anne granting the highest level of peerage to Atholl will be analysed.

Spanning 1690 – 1703.

Sources: Special Archives at University of Aberdeen, Blair-Atholl Castle Private Archives, National Archives of Scotland and National Library of Scotland, National Archives in London, other collections of note will primarily include the Hamilton and Breadalbane collections.

Proposed: Winter 2008/2009





Chapter 3

Themes of Monarchy, Parliament, Religion, and Estate Management and Atholl’s decisions in the Court of Queen Anne are to be closely examined. His variable political influence and the ongoing situation with Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, which eventually leads to rumours of the duke’s Jacobite leanings, a complete break with Queensbury and his later arrest for supposed complicity in the ‘Scot’s Plot’ will be discussed. The fallout from the ‘Scots Plot’ that lead to the duke’s arrest and confinement at Blair Castle on suspicion of treason in 1708 will be examined in relation to the important themes during this time. Also reviewed will be his strong anti-Union sentiments, his persistent fight against Union and why he ultimately decides to vote for Union.

Spanning approximately 1700 – 1708.

Sources: Special Archives at University of Aberdeen, Blair-Atholl Castle Private Archives, National Archives of Scotland and National Library of Scotland, National Archives in London, other sources of note will include the Hamilton, Fraser, Ogilvie and Breadalbane, etc. letters.

Proposed Date of Submission: Spring/Summer 2009



Chapter 4

The personal tragedy of the death of his first wife, Katherine and the effect this tragic passing has upon Atholl and his children leading to the breakdown in their relationships is a vital factor of this period. Study will be made of his correspondence and actions that led three of his sons into alignment with the Jacobites, as this surely cannot be happenstance. The idea of equivocation by having sons on ‘both sides’ has been suggested in previous works – however, if that were so then why does only one son remain loyal to Atholl, the Protestant succession of the Monarchy and the Presbyterian Kirk, especially a son who is not his heir? A further crucial and tragic development in this period is the death of his first son and heir, John, in 1709 at Malpaquet under Marlborough, which upset the planned succession of Atholl’s title and lands. The duke’s frantic attempts to contact his second son, William, to bring him home from naval service substantiate the confusion and problems this unexpected event has on Atholl. The duke’s relationship with William, now Lord Tullibardine, who spends most of the time after his return in 1710 at the Court in London under the influence of the Earl of Mar will be analysed and, further, William’s influence on his brothers James, Charles and George versus that of their father will be determined.

Spanning from 1707 – 1714

Sources: Queen Mother Library at University of Aberdeen – Stuart Papers at Windsor; Special Archives at University of Aberdeen, Blair-Atholl Castle Private Archives, National Archives of Scotland and National Library of Scotland, National Archives in London,

Proposed Date of Submission: Summer 2009



Chapter 5

The primary themes leading to the Jacobite rising of 1715 and the break in relations between the Duke and his three rebellious sons will be covered in depth. The affect of the attainder of Lord Tullibardine and the duke’s vigorous efforts to secure his son Charles’ release from execution as a traitor as well as his efforts on behalf of his brother, Lord Nairne, who is imprisoned in the tower of London will be appraised.

Approx. 1714-1716.

Sources: Special Archives at University of Aberdeen, Blair-Atholl Castle Private Archives, National Archives of Scotland and National Library of Scotland, National Archives in London

Proposed Date of Submission: Fall/Winter 2009



Chapter 6

Study of the themes that dominate Atholl’s life in the aftermath of the ’15 will be analysed. The Duke’s efforts to bring his son Lord George back to Scotland also influence this period but this juxtaposes the fact that his relationship with his attainted heir, William, is completely broken as this son is not allowed or wanted back in Great Britain. Further discussion will be made regarding his relations with other family in the last years of his life up to his death in 1724. His rationale for passing his titles and lands to his son, James and the repercussions this decision would have later will be examined.

Spanning 1716 – 1725.

Sources: Special Archives at University of Aberdeen, Blair-Atholl Castle Private Archives, National Archives of Scotland and National Library of Scotland, National Archives in London

Proposed Date of Submission: Winter 2010





Conclusion

Summation will include the major themes in the thesis and how these topics affect or are affected by the first Duke of Atholl’s ideological and political influence. Also summed up will be his legacy to Scottish then British politics and religious matters, his relations with his family and tenants on his estates in his role as a one of the last old style Scottish magnates.

Proposed Date of Submission: Spring/Summer 2010



Bibliography, Reference and Index



So far, I have been to the Blair Castle archives several times for primary research on the duke of Atholl and his family and to Edinburgh to the NLS and National Archives to review their holdings. Further research will require travel to London but with the shift in emphasis to the first duke, I can conduct all my primary research without having to leave Britain.



I am confident that with the new supervisory team and their excellent guidance I will complete the PhD in another 2 to 3 years maximum.