Chief – An Greamach Mor – Chief of All the Grahams

His Grace, 8th Duke of Montrose

James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose was born on 6th April 1935 in what is now modern day Zimbabwe. He married Catherine Elizabeth MacDonnell Young in 1970 and gained his titles on the death of his father 7th Duke of Montrose in 1992.
Montrose resides at Drymen near Loch Lomond and the clan seat of Buchanan Castle. He spends a great deal of time in London as a member of the House of Lords and has a deep interest in Scottish affairs, agriculture and history. He is currently Chairman for the Loch Lomond Association as well as an Officer in the Royal Company of Archers.

The Arms of our chief are registered as follows. Quarterly: 1st and 4th Or, on a chief Sable three escallops Or (Graham) 2nd and 3rd Argent, three roses Gules (Montrose). The shells on the arms are a very old emblem indeed and were first used in the 13th century on some of the earliest Graham seals. They also appear on the earliest known surviving roll of Scottish Arms – the so-called ‘Balliol Roll’ of 1332. Evidence to date suggests that a Graham ancestor took part in a pilgrimage to Santigo de Compostella in Spain and took the shell as an emblem, which has associations with St James the Great and Neptune.

Under Scottish law Arms are granted to individuals not to whole families with the same name so it is incorrect to use any coat of arms unless you clearly indicate to whom they belong. To learn more about arms and their correct use see the Court of the Lord Lyon website