James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose
| The Marquess of Montrose | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1612 |
| Died | 21 May 1650 (aged 37) old Mercat cross, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Cause of death | execution |
| Resting place | St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Other names | The Great Montrose |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews |
| Occupation | chief of Clan Graham, soldier, poet |
| Title | Lord Lieutenant and captain-general of Scotland, 1st Marquess of Montrose, 5th Earl of Montrose |
| Spouse(s) | Magdalene Carnegie |
| Children | James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose |
| Parent(s) | John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose Mary Ruthven |
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed. From 1644 to 1646, and again in 1650, he fought a civil war in Scotland on behalf of the King and is generally referred to in Scotland as simply "the Great Montrose".
His "spectacular" victories, which took his opponents by surprise, are remembered in military history for their tactical brilliance.
James Graham, chief of Clan Graham, was the youngest of six children and the only son of John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose and Lady Margaret Ruthven. The exact date and place of his birth are unknown, but it was probably in mid-October.[1] His maternal grandparents were William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, and Dorothea, a daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and his second wife Janet Stewart. Her maternal grandparents were John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl and Lady Janet Campbell. Janet Campbell was a daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stewart. Elizabeth was a daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox and Margaret Montgomerie. Margaret was a daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 1st Lord Montgomerie and Margaret Boyd.
Graham studied at age twelve at the college of Glasgow under William Forrett who later tutored his sons. At Glasgow, he read Xenophon and Seneca, and Tasso in translation. In the words of biographer John Buchan, his favourite book was a "splendid folio of the first edition" of History of the World by Walter Raleigh.
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