John Murray, Governor 1793-1828
John Murray, b.30 June 1755, d.1830, eldest son of John, 3rd Duke of Atholl, who had been the last Atholl Lord of Man before selling the regalities at the Revestment.
Twice married - first (26 Dec 1774) to Jane, eldest daughter of Charles 9th Lord Calcart, by whom he had nine children. She died 4 Sept 1790. He married secondly (11 March 1794) Margery by whom he had two children. She was eldest daughter of James 16th Lord Forbes and relict (they had married in 1786) of John McKenzie, Lord Macleod (eldest son of George 3rd Earl of Cromartie who had forfeited his title by joining rebellion of 1745); she died 4 Oct 1842.
He believed his parents had been induced to sell the regalities much too cheaply and forced the British Government to hold a number of inquiries. The Island authorities strenuously opposed his attempts which in 1792 led to the visit of 5 commissioners who produced a very valuable report on the then economic state of the Island. The report backed the Duke's contention that the original purchase price was too low but pointed out that most of the revenues were due to smuggling activities. As a sop to the Duke the British Government offered him the post of Captain-General and Governor. Initially he was welcomed, possibly in the belief that he would rest satisfied and not push his claims any further. However he continued to push his claims and quickly lost any popularity with the native Manx. as Train (a fellow Scot writing in the 1830's) puts it " the maintenance of his private rights, by the exercise of his power as governor, in appointing to all the different departments, to which either his patronage or: influence could extend, persons connected with or depending on his family, generally to the exclusion of the natives, furnished a theme of jealousy and indignation for the islanders at large" or as the manx had it "Murrays, Murrays everywhere".
There quickly arose a divide between most of the Manx, led, it must be admitted, by a self-elected and increasingly conservative House of Keys, who opposed the 'grasping Murrays' and the non-Manx immigrants who appreciated the Duke's attempt to modernise the Island. In 1808 the British Government appointed Col. Smelt as Lieutenant Governor who managed to retain the trust of the Manx though generally despised by the Duke's party.
Major interests were in Scotland where he was lord-lieutenant of Perthshire from 1794 to his death in 1830. had a major interest in afforestation and was reported to be the first to have planted larch on a large scale in Scotland; on which subject he wrote 'Observations on Larch' published London.
John Murray built himself a 'palace' in Castle Mona and attempted to develop the tourist trade to the Island. However it was the appointment of his young nephew as Bishop in 1814 and the latter's insensitive attempt to extract £6,000 pa from the tithes at the period when agriculture was depressed that finally provoked riots and the departure of both Bishop and Duke. Train's summary of him as "His grace was an active, liberal, and enlightened nobleman: he possessed considerable interest at court, which he uniformly employed in advancing the real interests of his Island" could be equally balanced by Callow's comment 'The Athol rule ended in 1825 A.D. Te Deum Laudamus."
References
D. Winterbottom Governors of the Isle of Man since 1765 Douglas: Manx National Heritage 1999 (ISBN 09524019-5-9)
To the Most Noble
JOHN DUKE OF ATHOLL
Lord Lieutenant and Governor of the ISLE of MANN &c. &c. &c.
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/writers/jstowell/athol.htm
RANG'D on the wide-extended shore
See Mona's sons exulting stand,
The ark with rapture they explore
That brings the GUARDIAN OF THE LAND !
Each zealous bosom pants with quiet delight :-
How young Impatience turns
And fill'd with ardor turns
half his pleasure into pain.
Now the proud vessel swells upon the sight,
Approaching joyful she appears,
As conscious of the prize she bears,
And gains the willing port, - where all around,
Glad echoes faithful accents loud resound,
Thrice welcome ATHOLL to thy MANN again !"
Mona serene assumes a placid smile,
While silent transports fill her conscious breast;
See future blessings dawning on her isle,
And ATHOLL long in blessing, others blest;
Whose virtues shall confirm his noble blood,
Blending the will and power of doing good.
These are thy honors ATHOLL ! not the crest,
With splendid plume, nor Titles sounding name,
Nor the rich star that sparkles on thy breast,
And glitters on the towr'ing hill of Fame:
But that thou wearest a title on thy heart,
More noble far than Grandeur can impart.
To make a nation happy shall be thine,
And with unborrowed lustre shine;
For thee unfading laurels grow,
Which GRADITUDE shall twine around thy brow:
While Age and Youth thy worth shall scanb,
And hail thee, ATHOLL as the FRIEND of MANN!
Peel, March 1st 1793
Note
This piece appeared in the "Manks Mercury" of the 5th March 1793. The grandiloquent title given to the Duke of Athol of "Lord Lieutenant and Governor of the Isle of Man" was erroneous. The poet was not however blameable for using it - in as much as a public announcement had been made in the number of the Mercury for the 19th of the preceding month to the effect that His Majesty had conferred that title upon his Grace.
The real title conferred was "Governor in Chief and Captain General" - and as the circumstances under which this was bestowed may not be generally known, I apprehend it will not be out of place here to relate them.
After the sale of the Sovereignty of the Island by his father in 1765 - although the Duke of Athol retained the title of Lord of Man and the Isles", and although he affected to exercise certain powers - in reality he was placed in an exceedingly anomalous and most unpleasant position - inasmuch as he held no crown appointment and was not therefore recognized as an official - in fact he no locus standi in the country or in its legislative proceedings.
To remedy this , and to place him in a position of authority, the British Government proposed to confer upon him the appointment before named, attaching to it a salary of £400,
Upon the first arrival in the Island of the Duke after receiving this appointment, a public demonstration partaking of a quasi official one took place. The "Mercury" of the 5 March 1793 thus describes the proceedings
Douglas March 5.
Extract from a letter from Ramsey, 2 March.
"On Thursday evening about 6 o'clock His Grace the Duke of Athol, Lord Lieutenant and Governor in chief of this Island, arrived here, attended by Mr. Small. His Grace came from Scotland, in the "Royal George" Captain Crawford, accompanied with the "Prince Edward", Captain Cook, and "Prince of Wales", Captain Murray. His arrival was announced by firing from the cutters; and welcomed by a salute from the Guns on shore. From the Quay to Collector Gamble's house, where he was accommodated during his short stay, crowds of people attended with acclamations. Bone fires, illuminations and fires from towns (?) on the adjacent hills, which appeared in a blaze, testified the general joy. His Grace was waited upon by a number of Gentlemen; and departed late in the evening for Douglas, on horseback, attended by his friends."
The account then proceeds -
"On Thursday night about 12 o'clock, his Grace the Duke of Athol and his suite, arrived here from Ramsey. On Friday morning the Lord Bishop, the Hon. Alexander Shaw, Captain Taubman, Deemster Moore, John Lace Esq., the Vicars General and several other Gentlemen came to town to pay their respects to his grace. About 8 o'clock all the vessels in the harbour displayed their colors - several guns were fired - and all around gave indications of the arrival of the welcome visitor. Colors were displayed in different parts of the town; and every individual seemed to participate in the general gladness. About 11 his Grace made his appearance at the door - he was dressed in the Uniform of his own Corps of Royal Manks Fencibles. This was a sight pleasing as ot was unexpected. His Grace's tender regard for the happiness and prosperity of the inhabitants of this island, has been displayed on many occasions; - but a circumstance like the present, must render the illustrious name of Atholl still dearer to every friend of Mona :- for at a period when the island was left helpless as an [missing] - when the [.] of military was withdrawn from it - and when the property of individuals was exposed to the ravages of our common enemy. His Grace, seeing our defenceless situation, has anticipated the wishes of his people, and obtained permission to raise three companies of Royal Manks Fencibles, for the safeguard and protection of the Island; - and he himself has condescended to head the Loyal Corps.
In the course of the Morning, his Grace accompanied by his friends, took several turns down the Quay and around the market, amidst the acclamations of the people ; and in the afternoon, at the usual hour, several Gentlemen of the town and country, were invited to partake of the cheer at his hospitable board."
The account then goes on to describe a General Illumination at night and proceeds -
"On Saturday morning his Grace accompanied by a numerous suite went to Castle Rushen. On approaching Castletown, he was meet by a large body of people, with the loud and repeated acclamations; and on his arrival at the Castle Gates was received by the Castletown Volunteers under arms. After partaking of a repast prepared by the Lieutenant Governor, His Grace proceeded to the Court room, where his Commission was read, and the oath of office administered, and after the proper signal, a Royal Salute immediately given.
The Lieutenant Governor and Council then presented a congratulatory address upon his Grace's appointment to which he was pleased to make a most gracious reply. The Court room was crowded with a genteel assemblage of both sexes, whom his Grace addressed in a handsome and animated speech. expressive of his attachment to the Island, and assurances of unremitting attention to its interest and prosperity.
A dinner was given at the Castle to a numerous party of Gentlemen; after which a number of loyal and patriotic [rest missing]
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/writers/jstowell/dofa.htm
Address to His Grace the Duke of Atholl
July 1793
Welcome is Summer's glad return,
When Nature all her beauties yields;
Sweet are the banks along the bourne,
And sweet the verdure of the fields;
But more delighted Mona's Eye
Beholds the bank upon the main,
That seems with Canvass wings to fly,
And brings kind ATHOLL to his Mann again.
Isle of Man
Note
The following paragraph appeared in the "Mercury" of the 9th July 1793.
"Arrival of His Grace the Duke of Atholl.
On Sunday Evening, about half past six o'clock, His Grace the Duke of Atholl arrived at Peel-town, in the "Royal George", Revenue Cutter, Captain Crawford. On his Grace's leaving the cutter, he was saluted with 11 guns; and on his landing, he was saluted from the battery on shore *. Owing to the fineness of the evening, the report of the cannon had a very pleasing effect among the hills near this town; and tho' at so very considerable a distance, every gun was heard distinctly. His Grace was welcomed by all the principal inhabitants of the place; and after staying a short time to refresh himself, he set off for Port-e-chee, accompanied by several of his friends, where he arrived about 11 o'clock.
It is more than probable that Mr Stowell was one of those who met and welcomed the Duke upon his arrival. And it is evident that he at once wrote off the above lines as they appeared in the paper as the account of the Duke's landing at Peel
*At this time a very rude battery stood on the beach at Peel a little beyond the Green . No trace of its site is now discernible - I believe it was merely an earthwork.
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history/1792/d034.htm
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