James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose (1 May 1878 – 20 January 1954) KT CB CVO VD was a Scottish nobleman, politician and engineer.

The eldest son of Douglas Graham, 5th Duke of Montrose, he was educated at Eton College. In 1906 he married Lady Mary Douglas-Hamilton, the only child of the 12th Duke of Hamilton. He succeeded to his father's titles in 1925.

He served in the Mercantile Marine and ASC in South Africa (medal and 3 clasps), 1900; served Auxiliary Naval Service, in World War I 1914-1919 (two medals). He was later Commodore of the Clyde Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and of East Coast of Scotland RNVR, Commodore of the RNVR from 1921, retiring in 1927.

He was unpaid Assistant Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1905, and Naval Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty.

He was unsuccessful Conservative parliamentary candidate for Stirlingshire in 1906, at the by-election at Eye, Suffolk in 1906 and at the general election in 1910. He joined the Liberal Party in 1936.

He was President of the British Institution of Marine Engineers in 1911, and President of the Junior Institution of Engineers in 1916 and 1917. He was the inventor and designer of first naval aircraft carrying ship, and designer and owner of first sea going heavy oil motorship. He obtained first film ever taken of a total eclipse of the Sun during a Royal Astronomical Society expedition to India in 1899, and took part in a mission in 1900 for Lloyd's of London to the South African Government to establish Wireless Telegraphic Stations on the coast. He was Vice-President of the Institution of Naval Architects, a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Trustee for the Royal Incorporation of Master Mariners, a Member of the Royal Company of Archers, and Commodore of the Sea Cadets in Scotland.

He was Lord Lieutenant of Buteshire from 1920 until 1953 and was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1942 and 1943. He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1905, a Companion of the Bath in 1911 and a Knight of the Thistle in 1947.

Honorary titles
Preceded by John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute	Lord Lieutenant of Buteshire 1920-1953	Succeeded by [[]]
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Douglas Graham	Duke of Montrose 1925-1954	Succeeded by James Angus Graham