James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
(1612-1650), SoldierSitter associated with 36 portraits
A Royalist general 'of most resolute and undaunted spirit', Montrose actually began his military career fighting against Charles I. In 1640 he led the Scottish Covenanting armies across the Tweed and occupied the Northeast of England. At the onset of the Civil War, he changed allegiance and raised a Royalist army in Scotland. He won a series of tactically brilliant victories, 1644 -5, but was eventually forced to join Charles II in exile. Five years later, a final attempt to defeat the Covenanters ended with his capture and execution.
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after Gerrit van Honthorst
oil on canvas, 1649
NPG 4406
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Adriaen Jacobz Matham
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D27062
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Adriaen Jacobz Matham
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D27069
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Paulus Pontius (Paulus Du Pont), probably after Gerrit van Honthorst
line engraving, 1640s-1650s
NPG D27067
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Paulus Pontius (Paulus Du Pont), probably after Gerrit van Honthorst
line engraving, 1640s-1650s
NPG D35469
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Paulus Pontius (Paulus Du Pont), probably after Gerrit van Honthorst
line engraving, 1640s-1650s
NPG D35470
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
published by Pierre Aubrey
line engraving, 1640s
NPG D35468
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
probably by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1650s-1670s
NPG D22862
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650
NPG D27057
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
probably by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1650s-1670s
NPG D35465
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
probably by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1650s-1670s
NPG D35466
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
probably by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1650s-1670s
NPG D35467
King Charles I and his adherents
after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Unknown artists
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D22672
King Charles I and his adherents
published by Samuel Speed, after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Unknown artists
line engraving, published circa 1663-1669
NPG D22673
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published circa 1663-1669
NPG D27060
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th to early 18th century
NPG D27066
after Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1684
NPG D23930
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after William Dobson
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D27059
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by George Vertue, after William Dobson
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D27068
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after Unknown artist
etching, 18th century
NPG D27072
King Charles I and his Supporters
by Joseph Nutting
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D10634
King Charles I and his supporters
by Unknown artist
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D19078
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Michael Vandergucht
line engraving, 1713
NPG D27070
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by François-Germain Aliamet, after William Dobson
line engraving, mid to late 18th century
NPG D27061
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after William Dobson
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D27058
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after William Dobson
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D35472
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after William Dobson
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D38926
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
by George Vertue, published by Stephen Austen, after William Dobson, and after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D27065
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after William Dobson
etching and line engraving, circa 1750-1800
NPG D35471
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after William Dobson
line engraving, 1757
NPG D27073
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose; James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
by George Vertue, published by John Ryall, published by Robert Withy, after William Dobson, and after Sir Anthony van Dyck
etching and line engraving, published 1757
NPG D35473
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
published by John Thane, after William Dobson
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D27064
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Innocenzo Geremia, published by John Scott
stipple engraving, published 20 May 1806
NPG D27071
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by John Henry Robinson, published by Harding & Lepard, after William Dobson
stipple and line engraving, published 1 October 1829
NPG D27063
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by John Henry Robinson, after William Dobson
stipple and line engraving, published 1829
NPG D38927
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Robert Charles Bell, after George Jamesone
line engraving, 1848
NPG D38925
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Laurie Pettitt
23 March 2017, 09:55
If you were to put the true story of Montrose against the Film Braveheart, you would say that the true story was 'A bit far fetched'. John Buchan wrote a splendid biography of Montrose that reads like a Thriller.
In the Bishop's Wars, Montrose, like Essex and Manchester thought they could fight the King into an agreement. Once he saw where people like Argylle were taking things ie. The destruction of the King, he sided with the King. Thomas Wentworth was a leader of the opposition to the King in the English Parliament and he too realised that Pimm and his fellows were after the same destruction. Montrose became a Martyr to Charles II just as Wentworth (Strafford) had been for Charles I.
THey made a silly film about Wallace (not Wallace and Gromit) but the true Blockbuster would have been Montrose.... There you are. I gave them a title.