John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl KT, PC (6 May 1729 – 5 November 1774), known as John Murray until 1764, was a Scottish peer and Tory politician.
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Murray was the eldest son of Lord George Murray, fifth son of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl. James Murray and George Murray were his younger brothers.
Murray sat as Member of Parliament for Perthshire from 1761 to 1764. On 8 January 1764, his uncle and father-in-law, the 2nd Duke of Atholl died. Murray should have been heir to the dukedom, which was only able to descend through the male line; but he was ineligible since his father had fought in Jacobite Rising of 1745 and consequently been attained in the blood. However, on 7 February 1764, the House of Lords deemed Murray as the rightful heir to his uncle's title (notwithstanding the attainder of his father) and he succeed him as 3rd Duke of Atholl. He was elected a Scottish Representative Peer in 1766. He was Grand Master of the Ancient Grand Lodge of England from 1771 until 1774, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1773 to 1774.
Atholl married his first cousin, Lady Charlotte, daughter of James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl, at Dunkeld, on 23 October 1753. They had nine children:
Atholl died in November 1774, aged 45, after drowning in the River Tay in a fit of delirium and was buried at Dunkeld. His eldest son John succeeded him in the dukedom.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lord John Murray |
Member of Parliament for Perthshire 1761–1764 |
Succeeded by David Graeme |
| Head of State of the Isle of Man | ||
| Preceded by James Murray |
Lord of Mann 1764–1765 |
Succeeded by George III Revested into British Crown |
| Masonic offices | ||
| Preceded by Hon. Thomas Mathew |
Grand Master of the Antient Grand Lodge of England 1771–1774 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Atholl |
| Preceded by The Earl of Dumfries |
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1773–1774 |
Succeeded by David Dalrymple |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by James Murray |
Duke of Atholl 1764–1774 |
Succeeded by John Murray |