William Graham, 2nd Earl of Montrose

William Graham, 2nd Earl of Montrose (1492 – 24 May 1571) was a Scottish nobleman and statesman, who successfully steered a moderate course through the treacherous waters of mid-16th century Scottish politics.

Origins Graham was the eldest son and heir of William Graham, 1st Earl of Montrose by Annabel, a daughter of John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond. The Grahams were a long-established family of Norman origin, who first rose to prominence in the reign of David I.

Career in the reign of James V Montrose succeeded to the earldom as a minor, following the death of his father at the Battle of Flodden. In 1525, he was one of a number of lords selected to attend personally on the King and in June 1535 he was appointed an ambassador to France in connection with the King's marriage. On 29 August 1536, he was named as one of the Commission of Regency during the King's absence in France until the King returned in 1537 with Madeleine of Valois.

Montrose supported the King in his struggles with the pro-English faction led by Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus and was rewarded on 29 May 1542 with a grant in feu of the King's lands of Rathernes and Blacksaugh, in Strathearn. (He afterwards also acquired the neighbouring lands of Orchill and Garvock.) Robert Graham, Master of Graham, who was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh on 10 September 1547. By his wife, Margaret Fleming, daughter of Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming, he had a posthumous son, John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose, who succeeded to the earldom on Montrose's death. Alexander Graham of Wallaceston, who married Marion, the daughter of George Seton, 3rd Lord Seton and widow of Hugh Montgomerie, Earl of Eglinton. William Graham, the Rector of Killearn, who died in about 1597 Mungo Graham of Rathernis, who married (contract 26 March 1571) Marjorie, daughter of Sir William Edmonstone of Duntreath, was Master of the Household to James VI for many years and died before 15 May 1590 Margaret Graham, who married (contract 17 February 1535) Robert, Master of Erskine Elizabeth Graham, who married George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness Agnes Graham, who married (contract 15 April 1547) Sir William Murray of Tullibardine Janet Graham, who married Sir Andrew Murray of Balvaird, their children included David Murray, 1st Viscount of Stormont and Patrick Murray Christian Graham, who married Robert Graham of Knockdolian