James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose

James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose (1631?–1669) was a Scottish nobleman and judge, surnamed the "Good" Marquess.

Life

He was the second son of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, by his wife, Lady Magdalene Carnegie, daughter of David Carnegie, 1st Earl of Southesk. Shortly after the death of his elder brother at the Bog of Gight in 1645, he was seized by General John Urry at Montrose, Angus where, aged about 14 years, he was attending school with a tutor. They were for a time imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle.^[1]

On the execution of the 1st Marquess of Montrose for high treason on 20 May 1650, the Montrose estates were forfeited. After the defeat of Charles II in 1652, Montrose made an appearance in London, was received by Oliver Cromwell, and quickly departed for Scotland, where his estates were restored to him. In the following year he took part in the rising in the Highlands under William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn. In March 1653-4 he quarrelled there to the point of violence with his hereditary enemy Lord Lorne (the courtesy title of the future 9th Earl of Argyll). When matters in the Highlands began to look desperate, he and Glencairn sent to George Monck that they might surrender, on terms of life. Shortly afterwards Montrose with a force of two hundred men was completely routed by a smaller force under Cornet Peas. He and his party then made separate peace terms with Monck, agreeing on the 23rd to come to Dundee and give up their arms, and arrange securities.^[1]

After the Restoration Montrose took part on 1 Jan. 1661 in the state funeral of his father at Holyrood Abbey. He declined to vote at the trial of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll in the following April, saying he could not be impartial. Montrose made a monetary claim against his son, Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, as a recompense for lands which had been given to the Marquess of Montrose on his father's forfeitures. The matter led to litigation between them, but a negotiated arrangement was reached, and on 23 February 1667 they drank each other's healths in the presence of the lord commissioners.^[1]

Montrose was appointed an extraordinary lord of session, 25 June 1668. He died in February of the following year, and Argyll, whom he appointed guardian to his son, journeyed from Inverary to Perthshire to attend his funeral.^[1]

Family

By his wife, Lady Isabella Douglas, countess dowager of Roxburghe as widow of Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe, and fifth daughter of William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton, Montrose had two sons, James Graham, 3rd Marquess of Montrose (died 1684) and Charles, who died young, and two daughters.^[1]

Notes

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "Graham, James (1631?-1669)". Dictionary of National Biography 22. London: Smith, Elder & Co.