John Murray (b.1660 d.1724) was the 2nd Marquess and 1st Duke of Atholl.

Murray was born on February 24, 1660, and was styled during fathers lifetime Lord Inverary, until 1696, when he was created Earl of Tullibardine . He was a supporter of William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution, taking the oath of loalty in September 1689, but was unable to prevent the majority of his clan, from joining Dundee under the command of his brother, Ross.

Murray married Catherine, daughter of William Douglas, 3rd Duke of Hamilton, with whom he had one daughter and six sons.

In 1693 he was appointed as one of the commissioners to the inquiry into the massacre of Glencoe. In 1695, Murray was made sheriff of Perth, in 1696 he became secretary of state, and from 1696 to 1698 was high commissioner. With the accession of Anne in 1702, he was made a privy councillor, and in 1703 became lord Privy Seal for Scotland. The same year he succeeded father as 2nd marquess of Atholl, and on the 30th of June, 1703, he was created Duke of Atholl, marquess of Tullibardine, earl of Strathtay and Strathardle, Viscount Balquhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, and Lord Murray of Balvenie and Gask.

In 1704 was made a Knight of the Thistle. In 1704 an unsuccessful attempt was made by Simon, Lord Lovat, who used the Duke of Queensberry as a tool to implicate him in a Jacobite plot against Queen Anne. The intrigue was disclosed by Robert Ferguson, and Atholl sent a memorial to the queen. on the subject, which resulted in Queensberrys downfall. But the affair had a damaging effect on Murray's career, and he was deprived of office in October 25, 1704. He subsequently became a strong antagonist of the governent, and of the Hanoverian succession. He vehemently opposed Union during the years 1705-1707, and entered into a project which would have resisted the crown by force, holding Stirling Castle with the aid of the Cameronians, however, he chose to accept "compensation" of £1000 in order to desist with these plans.

With the downfall of the Whigs and the advent of the Tories to power, Murray returned to favour and to office. He was chosen a representative peer in the House of Lords in 1710 and in 1712 was restored to his position as High Comissioner and Keeper of the Privy Seal.

With the accession of King George I he was again dismissed from office, but at in the rebellion of 1715, while three of his sons joined the Jacobites, Murray remained faithful to the government, and on the 4th of June 1717 succeeded in apprehending Rob Roy MacGregor, who, in turn, succeeded in escaping.

Murray died on the 14th of November 1724, and was succeeded by his son James.