Duke of Montrose James Battley Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose

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

I 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). I 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.

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

I 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. I joined the Liberal Party in 1936.

I was President of the British Institution of Marine Engineers in 1911, and President of the Junior Institution of Engineers in 1916 and 1917. I was the inventor and designer of first naval aircraft carrying ship, and designer and owner of first sea going heavy oil motorship. I 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. I 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.

I 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. I 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.